Lurie Children’s Honored by American Medical Association for Commitment to Well-Being of Physicians

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago has earned national recognition in 2025 from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine^® organization.

The prestigious recognition from the country’s leading physician’s association honors health systems, hospitals, and medical groups that prioritize proven methods to reduce burnout and enhance the professional fulfillment of doctors that comes from 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 healthcare work systems and address the root causes of burnout among care teams.

“We are immensely proud of the important initiatives we have implemented to advance physician wellness,” said Marcelo Malakooti, MD, MBA, CPE, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Lurie Children’s. “The AMA recognition is a testament to our commitment to provide the resources necessary to make Lurie Children’s a great place to work for our physicians. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that our physicians feel fulfilled in their practice while providing the best care for the children 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.

“Joy in Medicine recognized organizations are leading the gains made against the physician burnout crisis and help clinicians rediscover the deep rewards and joy that comes from helping patients,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD. “The AMA distinction honors each organization’s commitment to not only the health and well-being of the care team, but also to patients. Quality care ultimately originates from a positive and purposeful work culture where health care professionals can flourish both mentally and physically.”

Lurie Children’s achieved the AMA recognition by:

• Leveraging data-driven strategies to address burnout and practice efficiency, including related innovations in Clinical Informatics and contributions by a dedicated “Provider Advisory Council”
• Developing a formalized physician Wellbeing Committee that offers support programs and launched a wellness resource website
• Building a physician-peer coaching program and providing no-cost third-party psychotherapy services
• Initiating 1:1 listening sessions with Dr. Malakooti that are open to all physicians
• Holding physician-specific focus groups on involvement in organization-wide decision making and transparent communication, with all proposed solutions approved by executive leaders and in development

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. Organizations that earned 2025-2026 recognition join a strong group of currently recognized organizations from the 2024-2025 program, bringing the currently recognized cohort to 164 recognized organizations.

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

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.