Cook Children’s Physician Network Honored by AMA for Commitment to Well-Being of Physicians
Cook Children’s Physician Network has earned silver 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 health care work systems and address the root causes of burnout among care teams.
Cook Children's Office of Physician Well-being was established in January 2022 by system leadership to address physician burnout and promote professional satisfaction and well-being. Kirk Pinto, M.D., a CCPN pediatric urologist, and Sara Garza, M.D., a CCPN primary care physician, serve as Physician Well-being Advocates focus on this work.
“In the physician wellness space, the efforts and offerings of the AMA are invaluable,” said Dr. Pinto. “We have matured our program quickly using their resources. The Joy program is a national recognition of our efforts but, more important, it is an expert measurement and endorsement of our progress.”
Drs. Pinto and Garza were guests on an April 2024 episode of the Raising Joy podcast, and spoke about the signs and symptoms of burnout, its impact on doctors, families, and patient care, and strategies for prevention and management. They also sat down for an episode on the Untold: The Stories of Cook Children's podcast. Watch and listen here.
AMA Joy In Medicine
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, M.D. “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.”
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.