Understanding pediatric urologist burnout

In a recent interview with Urology Times®, Nicolette G. Payne, MD, a urology resident at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, elaborated on the underlying mechanisms contributing to burnout among pediatric urologists, identifying younger age, female gender, and hours worked per week as significant risk factors.¹

The most apparent risk factor is hours worked, as increased work hours directly correlate with heightened tiredness and stress.

For younger physicians, several stressors contribute to burnout. These include the challenges of learning to be an attending physician, the pressures of establishing a new practice, and financial burdens such as student loan debt, mortgages, or new vehicle payments. Academic pressures, like striving for promotions, and a general lack of developed resiliency due to newness in the field, also play a role.

Female gender presents unique stressors, especially within a male-dominated surgical field. Payne highlighted issues such as childbirth and parental leave, and insufficient workplace resources for lactation. Furthermore, existing research indicates that women are often overlooked for academic promotions and leadership roles, adding to their stress compared with male colleagues.

Although their study did not deeply investigate these mechanisms, Payne and her mentor Gwen M. Grimsby, MD, are conducting further research into lactation support for female surgeons and the reasons why female surgeons and physicians leave their academic positions or medicine entirely, suggesting a correlation with burnout.

REFERENCE

1. Payne NG, Salevitz D, Dvorak N, North A, Grimsby GM. Prevalence, risk factors, and coping strategies for burnout among pediatric urologists. Urology. 2025 Jun 13:S0090-4295(25)00592-8. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2025.06.025