Assessing workload, compensation, and burnout in academic dermatology: a national multi-institutional survey study
Anna L Brinks1, Carli Needle Lawrence1, Caitlin A Kearney1
1The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University, Grossman School of Medicine, New York City, New York.
Background:
Academic dermatologists manage a broad array of responsibilities, often extending beyond clinical duties to include education, research, mentorship, and administrative work.
Objective:
This study aimed to quantify the scope of paid and unpaid responsibilities among academic dermatologists in the United States and identify disparities based on gender, career stage, and geography.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey of 63 board-certified academic dermatologists from 12 institutions collected data on demographics, workweek allocation, after-hours tasks, compensation, burnout, and resilience from January to May 2025.
Results:
Respondents reported spending 58.3% of their time on clinical care, 15.9% on administrative duties, 13.8% on education, and 11.9% on research. Nearly half received 11 to 50 daily patient messages via the clinical inbox, and over 80% took hospital call duties, with most receiving no extra compensation. Burnout affected 63.5% of respondents and was significantly more prevalent among women, early-career physicians, and those in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Resilience scores were lower among women. Consulting opportunities, often associated with supplemental income and career advancement, were more common among male and senior physicians. Parental leave policies were inconsistently applied and poorly understood; nearly 20% of respondents had 8 or fewer weeks of paid parental leave.
Limitations:
Study limitations include the relatively small sample size and overrepresentation of the Northeast region, potentially hindering generalizability. Additionally, no significant race-based differences were observed, which may be due to insufficient sample sizes within comparator groups.
Conclusion:
These findings highlight the cumulative burden of undercompensated labor, inadequate institutional support, and gender disparities in workload and opportunity. Structural changes in compensation transparency, workload distribution, recognition of academic labor, and support for early-career and female physicians are essential to fostering sustainability and equity within academic dermatology.
