Study finds clinicians who consider their work a calling are better suited to navigate challenge and change.
ALPHARETTA, Ga., March 5, 2025 – Jackson Physician Search and LocumTenens.com, both national leaders in matching clinicians with healthcare organizations, today announced the results of their recent survey on purpose in medicine. The new report, “Is Medicine Still a Calling? Exploring Physician Attitudes About Purpose in Medicine,” reveals that 90% of physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) report they saw medicine as a calling when they began their careers. While half shared that their sense of calling has faded over time, 50% of respondents indicated high or fairly high levels of engagement at work.
The research, conducted in January 2025, surveyed physicians and APPs nationally to understand what inspired them to pursue medicine and to find out if those reasons are still motivating. More than 1,200 respondents working in both permanent and locum tenens roles responded to the survey.
“In the face of persistent shortages, understanding where and how physicians find and maintain a sense of purpose is important for the wellbeing of our healthcare system and the people in it,” said Chris Franklin, president of LocumTenens.com, which places more than 7,000 clinicians annually and has a staffing presence in more than 90% of the nation’s top hospitals. “Our mission is to shift their experience from overworked and overburdened to resilient and purposeful, and this research helps us better understand how to bring clinicians closer to their calling.”
Additional findings from the research indicate that:
- There are significant differences based on specialty. Those practicing women’s medicine (70%), general medicine (68%) and behavioral medicine (63%) were most likely to say their choice was definitely a calling. Specialists least likely to say medicine was a definite calling were diagnostic medicine (45%) and musculoskeletal (43%).
- Age is a factor. Baby Boomers report a strong sense of calling and the highest levels of passion for their work. Gen Z is motivated to pursue medicine by a desire to serve humanity.
- Role makes a difference. APPs are more likely than physicians to say medicine was definitely a calling.
- A sense of calling impacts turnover. Across all respondents, approximately one-third (30%) say they plan to leave their current employers in the next one to three years. However, clinicians who see medicine as a calling are more likely to say they plan to stay with their current employers.
How Physicians Reignite Passion and Purpose
Those who say medicine was a definite calling are more likely to feel satisfied with their jobs, say they would pursue medicine again, and encourage young people to pursue medicine as a career. When purpose and passion wane, half (52%) say problem-solving and making clinical decisions reignites them, and almost half report that patient interactions are also meaningful (49%).
“This data validates what we have seen anecdotally as we’ve matched over 10,000 clinicians with healthcare organizations over the last four decades,” added Tony Stajduhar, president of Jackson Physician Search. “Passionate and engaged physicians and APPs gravitate toward roles that bring them closer to patients, problem-solving and making clinical decisions, and further away from administrative burdens that can lead to burnout.”
The report “Is Medicine Still a Calling? Exploring Physician Attitudes About Purpose in Medicine” includes a Q&A with healthcare executive and author Shane Jackson, who brings insights from research for his book “This Is the Thing: About Life, Joy, and Owning Your Purpose” to the task of identifying how clinicians can be intentional about reconnecting with their purpose.
About Jackson Physician Search
Jackson Physician Search is an established industry leader in physician recruitment and pioneered the recruitment methodologies standard in the industry today. The firm specializes in the permanent recruitment of physicians, physician executives and advanced practice providers for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and medical groups across the United States. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga., the company is recognized for its track record of results built on client trust and transparency of processes and fees. Jackson Physician Search is part of the Jackson Healthcare® family of companies. For more information, visit www.jacksonphysiciansearch.com.
About LocumTenens.com
LocumTenens.com specializes in optimizing healthcare staffing operations with flexible, hybrid and temporary placement of physicians, advanced practitioners, social workers and psychologists. With a presence in more than 90% of the nation’s top healthcare facilities and supporting 150 medical specialties, LocumTenens.com is dedicated to improving healthcare through innovative staffing solutions, connecting clients and clinicians to deliver exceptional and uninterrupted patient care. Founded in 1995, LocumTenens.com is the largest provider of locum tenens services in the U.S and a leader in the healthcare staffing industry, placing more than 7,000 clinicians annually who deliver care to more than 10 million patients. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, LocumTenens.com is part of the Jackson Healthcare® family of companies. Learn more at LocumTenens.com.
For More Information, Contact:
Kristen Myers
kmyers@jacksonphysiciansearch.com
Kelly Street
kelly.street@locumtenens.com