What is the most overworked doctor?
Asked by: Myrtis Carroll Jr. | Last update: June 30, 2026Score: 4.7/5 (18 votes)
Emergency medicine physicians are consistently ranked as the most overworked and burned-out specialists, with burnout rates reaching up to 63-65% in recent studies. They face intense, fast-paced environments, high patient volumes, and excessive charting requirements.
What doctor has the highest burnout rate?
Emergency medicine physicians consistently report the highest burnout rates, with studies indicating that roughly 60%–65% of these doctors experience burnout. This high rate is primarily driven by long, unpredictable hours, exposure to severe trauma, and high-stress environments.
What doctors are most overworked?
According to the 2024 Medscape Physician Burnout & Depression Report, 63% of emergency medicine doctors have felt burned out—the most of any specialty—and they're followed by OB-GYNs (53%), oncologists (53%), and pediatricians (51%).
Which type of doctor is the least stressful?
Public health and preventive medicine specialists, dermatologists, and radiologists often report the lowest stress levels, due to predictable hours, few emergencies, and limited night shifts. These specialties frequently offer the best work-life balance, allowing for high job satisfaction and lower burnout rates.
Which doctor is least likely to be sued?
Psychiatrists and pediatricians are generally the least likely doctors to be sued for medical malpractice, often citing annual claim rates as low as 2.6% to 3.1%. Other low-risk specialties include dermatology, allergy/immunology, and pathology, largely because they involve lower-risk procedures, less emergency-driven care, and fewer life-or-death, immediate outcomes.
Overworked and underappreciated, doctors need more support
What is the chillest doctor specialty?
The "chillest" medical specialties—offering the best work-life balance, predictable hours, and low emergency frequency—typically include Dermatology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), Psychiatry, Pathology, and Allergy/Immunology. These fields, often referred to as "lifestyle" specialties, allow for high patient interaction without the 24/7, high-stress, emergency-driven nature of fields like trauma surgery or emergency medicine.
Which doctor has the highest malpractice?
Obstetrics/gynecology (OB-GYN) and surgical specialties—particularly general surgery, orthopedic surgery, and neurosurgery—have the highest rates of medical malpractice claims. Over 60% of these specialists are likely to be sued at some point in their careers.
What are the happiest physicians?
Based on 2025–2026 data, the happiest doctors are generally in specialties with high autonomy, predictable hours, and minimal emergency, such as Allergy & Immunology, Dermatology, and Preventive Medicine. Plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, and pathologists also report high satisfaction due to better work-life balance and high pay.
What kind of doctor is the easiest to be?
Based on residency competitiveness, match rates, and training demands for 2026, the "easiest" doctors to become include Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry. These specialties often have more available residency slots, lower average test score requirements, and a faster, more accessible path compared to surgical or highly specialized fields.
How many doctors quit medicine?
Approximately one-third of physicians in the US are considering leaving medicine or reducing their hours due to high burnout, with recent studies showing that over 100,000 clinicians, including roughly 117,000 doctors, NPs, and PAs, left the workforce annually in recent years. Data suggests that up to 20% of doctors plan to leave their practice within two years.
Who do doctors mostly marry?
Doctors frequently marry other doctors or healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, etc.) due to shared schedules, professional understanding, and limited social time during training. About 20%–25% of physicians marry other doctors, and roughly another 25% marry non-physician health professionals. Common partners also include professionals in education, business, or engineering.
What annoys doctors the most?
Lying about medication or habits
The truth is, your doctor isn't a mind-reader. In order for them to effectively provide care, they need to have honest and detailed information about your medical history, sexual activity, and habits, all of which can only come from you.
How old do most doctors retire?
Most physicians retire between the ages of 65 and 68, with a significant percentage continuing to work part-time into their 70s. While the average American retires around 62–65, doctors often work later due to late career starts, high debt, or enjoyment of the profession.
What is the #1 happiest job?
Based on recent analysis of employee satisfaction, construction workers are frequently ranked as having the #1 happiest job, despite the work being physically demanding. High job satisfaction in this field is driven by strong camaraderie, working outdoors, and seeing tangible results from their labor.
Which medical specialty has the highest divorce rate?
Based on long-term data, psychiatry has historically been reported to have the highest divorce rate among medical specialties, with studies indicating a rate as high as 50%. While psychiatry often ranks highest in specific longitudinal studies, other high-stress fields such as surgery also show elevated divorce rates compared to other specialties.
Do most doctors retire as millionaires?
Yes, a significant majority of doctors retire as millionaires, with approximately 72%–75% of physicians aged 60–64 having a net worth of over $1 million. While most reach this milestone, about 25% of doctors in their 60s still have a net worth under $1 million due to high debt, late career starts, or lifestyle inflation.
How much do I need to retire on $80,000 a year at 60?
To retire at 60 on $80,000 a year, you generally need a nest egg of approximately $2 million, assuming you follow the 4% rule (25 times your annual expenses). This formula provides enough for 30 years of retirement, though retiring at 60 may require a more conservative approach due to a longer retirement span.
What is the average lifespan of a medical doctor?
Doctors generally have a long life expectancy, often slightly higher than the general population, with average ages at death frequently reported around 78–80 years. However, this varies by specialty, with general practitioners often living the longest (approx. 80 years) and emergency physicians having lower average life expectancies (approx. 59-71 years).
Which doctor is sued the most?
Obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs) and general surgeons are among the most frequently sued physicians, with reports showing over 80% facing malpractice claims during their careers. High-risk specialties involving complex procedures, such as neurosurgery and orthopedics, also face high lawsuit rates, often due to severe patient outcomes.
What not to say to a doctor?
To ensure effective medical care, avoid lying about lifestyle habits (diet, smoking, alcohol), downplaying or exaggerating pain, or withholding information about other providers seen. Do not pretend to understand instructions, use "Dr. Google" to challenge their expertise, or save major concerns for the very end of the appointment.
Who is called the poor man's doctor?
Dr. Mohamed Mashaly (1944–2020), an Egyptian physician, is widely known as the "Doctor of the Poor" for dedicating over 50 years to treating low-income patients for free or at a nominal cost. He ran a humble clinic in Tanta, often providing medications at no cost, driven by a vow to help those unable to afford care.
What is the hardest profession to be married to?
Marriage Killing Careers
- Dancers and Choreographers 43% As a dancer, you'll use movement to interpret music, tell stories and express emotion. ...
- Bartenders (38%).
- Licensed Massage Therapists (38%)
- Gaming cage workers (35%). ...
- Extruding and forming machine setters (33%). ...
- Gaming Service Workers (31%).
What are red flags for doctors?
Key red flags for doctors include poor communication (rushed visits, dismissed concerns), unprofessionalism, and lack of collaboration. Other warning signs are frequent misdiagnoses, failure to explain treatment options, and not reviewing your medical history, which can necessitate seeking a new primary care provider.