Akron Children’s honored by American Medical Association for commitment to physician well-being

09-10-2025 (Akron, Mahoning Valley, Ohio)

Akron Children’s has earned national recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) for its efforts to combat physician burnout and foster professional fulfillment. The hospital received a Bronze Joy in Medicine® designation, awarded to organizations that put proven strategies in place to support doctors’ well-being and help them thrive while delivering patient care.

Organizations that meet the rigorous criteria of the Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program are leaders in the national effort to transform health care work systems and address the root causes of burnout among care teams.

“This recognition affirms our commitment to prioritizing our clinical team’s well-being as essential to delivering the highest quality care for children,” said Dr. Tarun Bhalla, chief clinical officer at Akron Children’s. “By addressing burnout and fostering a culture of wellness, we strengthen both our caregivers and the families we serve.”

Burnout among U.S. physicians peaked at 62.8% in 2021 during the COVID pandemic, according to research. But thanks to strides made to address burnout at the system level, the national physician burnout rate ebbed to 45.2% in 2023. Despite improvements, physician burnout levels remain much higher than other U.S. workers. Continued efforts are essential to ensure doctors receive the support they need to thrive and achieve national health goals.

According to the AMA, the Joy in Medicine® award recognizes organizations that are making measurable progress against physician burnout and helping clinicians rediscover the meaning and joy of practicing medicine.

Akron Children’s is tackling provider burnout through initiatives such as:

• Implementing Abridge as a generative AI tool to ease the burden of clinical documentation and allow providers to focus on listening to their patients instead of documenting notes.
• An EAP program with up to 25 sessions per year, as well as a private, local program (Akron Physician Wellness Initiative) that offers free and confidential wellness support services including counseling, medication management and educational sessions.
• A peer mentorship program that connects new providers with more experienced providers to help cultivate beneficial relationships for learning and sharing.
• Sports and leisure programs that provide recreational activities and events for staff to connect and build relationships.
• Volunteer opportunities for Akron Children’s providers to participate together in service projects in the communities they serve.

“The leaders at Akron Children’s are creating a culture of well-being where every employee feels supported, valued and empowered to thrive,” said Dr. Bhalla. “Through our well-being strategic planning process, we are using data and innovation to strengthen our organization and set a higher standard for how health systems can support their care teams.”

Since its inception in 2019, the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 200 organizations across the country. Recognition levels are valid for two years. This year, a total of 109 health organizations nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork and support.

Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine.