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.

The award was presented at the Mayor’s International Dinner by Mayor Mattie Parker on Nov. 1. This award recognizes Dr. Thornton’s tenacity and dedication to helping improve the quality of life for children across the globe with this rare disease.

“Born in Ireland, Dr. Thornton is truly world-renowned and one of the leaders in his field,” said Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System. “We are so glad he settled here in Fort Worth and we are extremely honored to share him with the world.”

Hyperinsulinism occurs when the pancreas produces too much insulin, driving blood sugar levels dangerously low and depriving the brain of important fuels it needs to function. It affects about 1 in every 25,000 to 50,000 newborn babies each year. For those affected by the rare condition, it can be a life-changing event. Without an accurate diagnosis, children face living with seizures and permanent brain damage.

Dr. Thornton has played a pivotal role in establishing the first two hyperinsulinism centers in the United States. First, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and today at Cook Children’s. Our center provides the highest level of multidisciplinary care to congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) patients and their families, many of whom travel from around the country and the world to receive care from Dr. Thornton and his team.

“This caliber of treatment is not only rare in the United States, but it’s rare all over the world,” said Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D., associate chief medical officer of Cook Children’s. “He does a lot of work with family advocacy groups for rare diseases and is committed to being a part of the journey for these families and patients.”

Dr. Thornton led a team in creating a new international screening that helps other doctors recognize symptoms and manage newborn infants who are at an increased risk of hypoglycemia. He leads HI research to better understand the disease and treatment options and speaks to clinicians around the world about managing this disease.

“Dr. Thornton's tireless dedication has touched lives across the globe,” said Danielle Drachmann, CEO of Ketotic Hypoglycemia International. “His vision, expertise and the collaborative spirit he instills, with the utmost respect for the expertise of affected families' lived experiences, have created ripples of positive change. His work is a testament to the remarkable power of collective effort to make a global impact.” 

Dr. Thornton’s recognition as a leader also earned him one of the first two endowed chairs at Cook Children’s.

“On behalf of all of us at Cook Children’s, we want to say how proud we are to see Fort Worth Sister Cities International recognize our own Dr. Paul Thornton with the Global Impact Award for his very distinguished career,” Mr. Merrill said.

Cook Children's is offering an evidence-based suicide prevention training that teaches staff how to engage, interpret, and respond to peers experiencing suicidal ideations. It's called Question, Persuade, Refer Training, or QPR for short. QPR teaches three steps that anyone can take to help save a life from suicide.  QPR training is being introduced first to employees at Cook Children's Medical Center-Fort Worth this fall and will expand to additional locations starting next year. Click here to learn more. 

For a helpful guide to mental health resources, click here.