Fighting burnout, with Stefanie Simmons, M.D., FACEP, CMO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation

Stefanie Simmons, M.D., FACEP, chief medical officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, joins the show to talk about the state of burnout in health care and what’s being done to fix it.

She explains how the foundation is working to remove stigmatizing mental health questions from licensing and credentialing forms, and why addressing burnout requires systemic change — not just resilience training. Simmons also shares what’s giving her hope, how organizations can better support their teams and what a healthier culture in medicine could look like.

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Music Credits:
Paper Notes by Eden Keyes - stock.adobe.com
Relaxing Lounge by Classy Call me Man - stock.adobe.com
A Textbook Example by Skip Peck - stock.adobe.com

Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

0:00 – Cold open
Stefanie Simmons, M.D., FACEP, on how changing licensing language is helping health care workers seek mental health care without fear of losing their ability to practice.

0:29 – Introduction
Austin Littrell introduces Off the Chart and previews the conversation with Stefanie Simmons of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation.

1:34 – About the Foundation
Simmons explains the mission of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and its national coalition, “All In: WellBeing First for Healthcare.”

3:02 – The state of burnout
How burnout has changed since the pandemic, and why administrative burden continues to strain the workforce.

4:41 – Which specialties are most affected
Emergency medicine and mid-career physicians continue to report the highest burnout rates.

6:15 – Signs of progress
A look at licensing and credentialing reforms across the country — and why they matter for clinician mental health.

8:07 – The importance of peer support
Simmons explains why peer support is one of the most powerful tools for health care workers in crisis.

10:17 – Generational perspectives
How younger clinicians are changing attitudes about work-life balance and mental health in medicine.

15:00 – Human performance and system design
Why medicine should take lessons from athletic performance — and how rest, coaching, and system design improve care.

16:50 – The Impact Wellbeing Guide
How the foundation’s guide and the Caring for Caregivers program are helping hospitals and states build sustainable well-being initiatives.

19:54 – The Lorna Breen Act reauthorization
Updates on federal legislation to reduce administrative burden and support clinician mental health.

21:02 – Technology and AI
The promise and limits of artificial intelligence in reducing administrative work for clinicians.

23:45 – Hope and the path forward
Simmons shares why she’s optimistic about the growing attention to workforce well-being.

25:49 – A message to primary care physicians
Encouragement and gratitude for primary care clinicians — and a reminder that improving care starts with supporting the whole team.

28:16 – Closing
Austin Littrell closes the episode with show credits and information on where to find Off the Chart and related Medical Economics and Physicians Practice content.