• William J Ares, Joseph C Maroon, and Brian T Jankowitz.
• Department of Neurosurgery, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, Illinois, USA.
• World Neurosurg. 2019 Dec 1; 132: e704-e709.

BackgroundBurnout among physicians has been a topic of growing interest in both the scientific and the lay press. It has been well established that burnout and perceived inequity in work-life balance can contribute to poor physician work satisfaction and poorer patient outcomes. To better understand burnout among neurosurgery residents at our institution, we systematically surveyed residents for symptoms of burnout and enacted responsive protocols to try to combat its deleterious effects.MethodsBefore and after the institution of a series of initiatives aimed at combating burnout, residents were surveyed to assess for symptoms of burnout, strength of relationships, and status of physical and mental health. Initiatives included gym access and group gym visits, a mentoring program, and a lecture series targeting multiple facets of health and well-being.ResultsNearly two thirds of neurosurgery residents demonstrated ≥1 signs of burnout at a moderate to severe level before and after the first year of our wellness initiative. Residents reported that work schedule and time availability were obstacles in focusing on their own personal health and wellness (utilization preventive health care visits, participation in group gym activities). Less than half of residents were content with their work-life balance.ConclusionsMaking a significant change in burnout rates in neurosurgery will require a number of key factors, including targeted initiatives that focus on specific local needs, honest buy-in by departmental leaders, and recognition by the physicians themselves that a problem exists.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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