Women physicians are leaving clinical practice earlier and burning out faster than their male peers — and "invisible work" is a significant, underrecognized contributor. Presented at the Women in Medicine Summit, internal medicine physician Dr. Gretchen Rickards defines invisible work as the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep workplaces and households running but go unseen and unvalued: finishing notes, responding to patient messages, mentoring trainees, coordinating childcare, and managing household logistics.

The burden isn't just about time — it's about the mental and emotional energy these tasks consume, often crowding out rest, career development, and personal wellbeing. Dr. Rickards tracked her own invisible work at home for several weeks and averaged over 20 hours per week, even in a dual-physician household with significant outsourcing.

By the Numbers:

• Women physicians are 43% more likely to leave clinical practice than men at any given age
• Median age of departure: 49 for women vs. 64 for men
• 46% of women physicians report burnout symptoms in 2026, vs. 37% of men
• Over ¾ of women who reduced hours cited family as the top reason

Why it matters: When experienced women physicians step back, patients lose expertise, organizations lose perspective, and the next generation loses mentors. Addressing invisible work isn't just a gender equity issue — it's a healthcare workforce concern that demands both individual awareness and systemic action.