By: Jackson Physician Search
Date: March 4, 2025
New research from Jackson Physician Search and LocumTenens.com explores the concept of purpose in medicine and its impact on how physicians feel about their jobs. Overall the data provides hope that while the system itself continues to face significant challenges, the people who work within it are there because they felt a calling to help others, and most still find meaning in their work. This is good news, as the data also suggests that a sense of purpose lends itself to greater resiliency and higher engagement levels — meaning clinicians with a strong sense of purpose are generally happier at work and better equipped to manage the many challenges they face.
Executive Summary
What Made You Pursue a Career In Medicine? For some, this path is one they’ve always wanted to take. For others, it’s a response to a personal experience — good or bad — within the healthcare system. Some were advised by a mentor or professor, while others were pushed by a parent. And while some pursue a career in medicine for stability or financial gain, most practitioners are motivated by a greater desire to serve humanity. It’s exactly this factor — the sense of fulfilling a higher purpose — that keeps most clinicians inspired day-to-day, despite the growing obstacles they face.
The research, conducted by Jackson Physician Search and LocumTenens.com in January 2025, reveals what drives clinicians to pursue the field of medicine — and what keeps them going. More than 1,200 physicians and advanced practice providers answered questions about finding purpose in medicine. The goal of this research was to truly understand…is medicine still a calling?
Multiple studies suggest that purpose is essential to happiness, and meaningful work is critical for job satisfaction. This new research suggests those with a strong sense of purpose are likely to handle the challenges of the field — from burnout to systemic issues — with greater resiliency than those who feel less passion and purpose. They are also more likely to feel engaged and plan to stay with their employers.
Key Findings
- Most respondents felt “called” to medicine. 90% of respondents saw medicine as a calling when they began, but more than half say the feeling has diminished.
- Altruism is an inspiration. 73% of respondents said “helping others/serving humanity” was a key motivator for pursuing medicine.
- Generations have different drivers. Baby Boomers are more likely to report a strong sense of calling and the highest levels of passion for their work, but Gen Z was most likely to say they are motivated to pursue medicine by a desire to serve humanity.
- APPs feel called to their work. Advanced practice providers (APPs) are more likely than physicians to say medicine was definitely a calling.
- Satisfaction is higher for those who feel a calling. Those who say medicine was a calling are more likely to feel satisfied with their jobs, say they would pursue medicine again and encourage young people to pursue medicine.
- A sense of calling impacts turnover. Across all respondents, approximately one-third (30%) say they plan to leave their current employers in the next one to three years. However, clinicians who see medicine as a calling are more likely to say they plan to stay with their current employers.