CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 3, 2025 – Advocate Health has earned gold level recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine organization, the highest possible level of recognition, affirming Advocate Health’s role in shaping a healthy and resilient care environment.
Advocate Health is one of the largest health systems, nationwide, to earn this honor and is being recognized for demonstrating excellence across six key areas: leader commitment, burnout assessment, leadership empowerment, efficiency, teamwork and professional support.
The prestigious Joy in Medicine recognition – which comes 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 program’s rigorous criteria are leaders in the national effort to transform health care work systems and address the root causes of burnout among care teams.
A key part of Advocate Health’s work to support physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) lies in the organization’s “Best Place to Care” initiative, which is a grassroots effort that was started to boost physician and APP well-being and improve the work experience, particularly around the points that interrupt or distract from patient care. Work from the Best Place to Care initiative has included:
- Full integration of DAX Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to automate clinical documentation, saving significant clinical hours;
- Enhanced onboarding for physicians and APPs, making them aware of available support;
- Increased virtual practice support;
- Expanded provider relations and peer support training;
- Increased recognition for teammates;
- Expanded community gathering & culture building strategy;
- National legislative work to get de-stigmatizing language removed from credentialing forms.
“We are deeply honored and proud to receive this prestigious designation,” said Dr. Suzanna Fox, executive vice president and chief physician executive, Advocate Health. “Our ‘best place to care’ initiative has made a significant difference in the lives of our clinicians, maximizing their time with patients — which is why they got into medicine in the first place — and reducing the administrative burden. It empowers them to maximize their passion, potential and performance.
“We’re building a culture of well-being for all and to receive this type of recognition for our efforts is very meaningful for all of our clinicians and teammates,” she added.
Atrium Health, which is part of Advocate Health, launched the Best Place to Care initiative more than five years ago and has expanded it to include all of Advocate Health’s 35,000 doctors, clinicians and aligned medical staff. Prior to becoming part of Advocate Health, Atrium Health earned the two-year designation award in 2021 at the silver level and at the gold level in 2023.
“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 Dr. Bobby Mukkamala. “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. This year, a total of 109 health organizations 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. Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine.
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