A 10-year follow-up survey study: burnout in U.S. pharmacy practice faculty, where do we stand?

In 2014, the authors of this study reported burnout rates among pharmacy practice faculty. Ten years later, following the COVID-19 pandemic along with changes to pharmacy student enrollment and demographics, this study aimed to compare burnout rates among pharmacy practice faculty reported in 2014 with 2025. Demographics, participation in workplace well-being programs, and intention to leave the profession were also reported in this study.

An electronic cross-sectional survey assessed burnout and demographics among pharmacy practice faculty from United States colleges/schools of pharmacy. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Educators Survey (MBI-ES) which has been deemed the gold standard for measuring burnout. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson/Spearman correlations were used to identify predictive characteristics of burnout.

Of the 2,505 pharmacy practice faculty invited to participate in the study, 327 responded (13%). The MBI-ES scores for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment in 2025 compared with 2014 were significantly worse. Faculty aged 31-40 years had the highest emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores. Lack of hobby was predictive of low personal accomplishment. Of the respondents, 73% reported that they have access to a well-being program at their university. Those who reported that well-being resources were not helpful had worse scores in all three burnout domains. Over 16% of respondents reported that they would likely leave academic pharmacy within the next 3 years.

Burnout is higher among pharmacy practice faculty compared to the 2014 report. Access to well-being programs is available for most faculty; their reported usefulness, however, was mixed. Burnout could be contributing to faculty departing academic pharmacy within the next 3 years. Pharmacy academic institutions must continue to work towards mediating burnout among pharmacy practice faculty to enhance well-being and retention.