Burned-Out Doctors: A Neuropsychologist's Guide to Physician Well-Being with Dr. John Sawyer

In this episode of SoundPractice, host Mike Sacopulos sits down with John Sawyer, PhD, ABPP-CN, a neuropsychologist and medical director of professional staff experience at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, who leads initiatives to address physician burnout and improve well-being across Ochsner's 40,000 employees. With healthcare facing a workforce crisis — an aging population requiring more care, fewer physicians entering the field, and reduced discretionary time among practitioners — Sawyer shares Ochsner’s innovative approach to tackling burnout. Since 2017, Ochsner has focused on three pillars: building individual resilience, improving ease of practice by reducing administrative burdens, and fostering team and culture development. Sawyer also introduces his framework of four archetypes of burned-out physicians: - Over-Engaged: Taking on too much, with unclear priorities. - People-Pleaser: Struggling with boundaries and delegation. - Perfectionist: Over-documenting and micromanaging. - Cynic: Problem-focused and rejecting solutions. He emphasizes the importance of creating psychological safety, where physicians can openly discuss challenges without fear of career repercussions. Effective well-being programs should address the entire healthcare team, as physicians rely on engaged support staff to function effectively. Also, Sawyer encourages organizations to start well-being initiatives now, view them as investments in retention and recruitment, and commit financial resources to wellness efforts — even those not tied directly to RVU generation. Whether you are a healthcare leader or practitioner, this episode provides actionable insights into combating burnout and making your organization "irresistible." Connect with Dr. John Sawyer on LinkedIn. http://linkedin.com/in/john-sawyer-phd-abpp-cn-a1b842156 Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org