Allegheny Health Network (AHN) has received national recognition for its efforts to support the wellbeing of its clinician workforce. The organization announced it has been named a Wellbeing First Champion for 2025 by ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare and has earned gold recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) as a Joy in Medicine organization.
The WellBeing First Champion designation means that AHN’s physician and advanced practice provider (APP) credentialing applications no longer include intrusive or stigmatizing language about mental health care and treatment. This change allows clinicians at AHN to seek mental health care without concern that doing so could affect their employment or licensure status.
Verification of these application changes is conducted every two years by The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare, which is a coalition dedicated to removing barriers that prevent healthcare workers from accessing mental health services. In 2024, AHN became the first healthcare organization in Pennsylvania to be recognized as a WellBeing First Champion.
AHN also received gold-level recognition from the AMA’s Joy in Medicine program, which honors organizations implementing proven strategies to reduce burnout and improve professional fulfillment among doctors. This recognition highlights organizations that meet strict criteria designed to address systemic causes of burnout within healthcare teams.
National data shows that physician burnout reached 62.8% during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 but declined to 45.2% by 2023 as health systems took steps to address the issue. However, physician burnout remains higher than among other U.S. workers, indicating ongoing need for support measures.
“These recognitions are a testament to AHN’s deep commitment to fostering a supportive and healthy environment for our clinicians,” said Thomas P. Campbell, MD, MPH, an emergency medicine physician and chief wellness officer for AHN. “By continuing to find new ways to improve the wellbeing of our physicians and APPs, we are ultimately ensuring they can provide the best possible experience and care for our patients.”
Further information about AHN’s clinician wellness initiatives can be found at https://www.highmarkhealth.org/blog/future/Investments-in-Care-Include-Clinician-and-Workforce-Wellness-Initiatives.shtml.
