New Study Highlights Mental Health and Job Satisfaction Challenges Among GME Coordinators

Results recently published from a national survey of more than 6,000 graduate medical education (GME) program and institutional coordinators, led by members of the ACGME Well-Being team and published in Academic Medicine, reveal concerning levels of depression, anxiety, and burnout—underscoring the urgent need for greater support and recognition of these essential professionals.

Of the coordinators surveyed in late 2022:

• 24% of respondents reported symptoms of depression.
• 30% reported moderate to severe anxiety.
• 38% screened positive for burnout.
• 28% said they were likely or very likely to leave their position within the next year.

These findings mirror or exceed mental health trends in the general population and highlight the emotional toll of the increasingly complex coordinator role. Coordinators are responsible for a wide range of responsibilities—from those related to scheduling and accreditation activities to providing emotional support for residents and fellows—yet many report feeling underappreciated and overburdened.

Key drivers of job satisfaction from the survey include:

• Positive interactions with residents, fellows, faculty members, and leaders.
• A sense of self-efficacy and meaning in one’s work.
• Flexible work schedules.

Top drivers of dissatisfaction from the survey include:

• Tracking down faculty members and residents/fellows to complete tasks.
• Low pay and high workload.
• Lack of appreciation and respect from faculty members and residents/fellows.

The study’s authors emphasize that while coordinators are often the backbone of GME programs, their well-being has been largely overlooked in national conversations about health care workforce wellness.

“Coordinators deserve our attention, our respect, our appreciation, supportive work environments, and compensation commensurate with the level of work they are performing,” the study’s authors wrote.

Coordinators can find helpful information in a blog post Resources to Support GME: Coordinators which includes resources both in the ACGME’s digital learning platform, Learn at ACGME, and on the ACGME website. Included in Learn at ACGME is a new workshop designed to enhance coordinator well-being by equipping them with skills and strategies to enhance their satisfaction with work, life, and self.

The study findings call for institutional leaders, faculty members, and residents/fellows to recognize and reduce unnecessary stressors, promote a culture of appreciation and respect, and invest in systems and practices that support coordinator well-being. The GME community must ensure that those who support the next generation of physicians are themselves supported. Read the full research report on the Academic Medicine website.