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News
Physician associates are burning out at alarming rates, and most feel they can't even talk about it at work. A new Medscape report finds 1 in 6 PAs are both burned out and depressed, while 3 in 4 say their employers don't recognize the toll. Experts say real change requires peer mentoring, dedicated APP leadership, and a cultural shift — not just pizza parties.
Physician associates (PAs) are experiencing burnout at troubling rates — and a culture of silence is making it worse. According to the Medscape PA Burnout & Depression Report 2026, 1 in 6 PAs report feeling both burned out and depressed, yet the majority feel their employers simply don't get it. Bureaucratic overload, insufficient pay, and heavy patient loads are the top culprits, and many PAs are suffering longer before seeking help — if they seek it at all.
The stigma runs deep. Experts note that clinicians are trained to push through, and many PAs still fear that admitting burnout could jeopardize their license or job. Healthcare leaders say token gestures like appreciation lunches fall flat — what PAs actually need is systemic support: peer mentoring programs, clear role definitions, and dedicated advanced practice provider (APP) leadership embedded within organizations.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With PAs poised to make up nearly half of all clinicians in the coming years, their well-being is a workforce crisis hiding in plain sight. Organizations that fail to act risk accelerating turnover at a time when the healthcare system can least afford it.
