FHC #165: Why doctors are doing side gigs

14 snips

Feb 19, 2025

Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a cardiologist and author of "Just One Heart," discusses the trend of physicians pursuing side gigs—40% of doctors now supplement their income with an average of $34,000 annually. The conversation highlights rising burnout, financial pressures, and shifting generational attitudes toward work. Fisher explores whether these side endeavors serve as creative outlets or sources of stability. He also addresses the impact of AI on healthcare roles and the evolving nature of medical practice, emphasizing the need for healthcare organizations to adapt.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

The Rise of Physician Side Gigs

A surprising number of doctors (40%) have side gigs, earning $34,000 annually.
This represents a shift from traditional medical practice and raises concerns about physician attention and healthcare organization implications.

INSIGHT

Burnout and Side Gigs: Correlation vs. Causation

Physician burnout correlates with the rise of side gigs, but causation is unclear.
The shift from private practice to hospital employment may contribute, changing physicians' mindsets from business owners to employees.

INSIGHT

Financial and Personal Fulfillment

Doctors seek side gigs due to financial pressures like high debt and lower salaries compared to other fields.
They also desire more career fulfillment beyond traditional medicine, driven by factors like decreased intellectual stimulation and a changing concept of work.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome back cardiologist and burnout expert Dr. Jonathan Fisher to explore a surprising and growing trend: the rise of physician side gigs.

The discussion opens with eye-opening statistics: 40% of doctors now have a side gig, bringing in an average of $34,000 annually. This shift marks a stark departure from the past, when physicians expected to practice medicine full-time for decades.

Drs. Pearl and Fisher debate the driving forces behind this change, from rising burnout and financial pressures to shifting generational attitudes about work and career fulfillment.

The conversation also tackles broader questions about the evolving role of doctors in modern medicine. As AI reshapes healthcare and physicians increasingly work for large institutions rather than private practices, has medicine become less stimulating? Are doctors seeking side gigs as an outlet for creativity, financial stability or a deeper sense of purpose? And how can healthcare organizations adapt to retain and empower their workforce?

Key topics discussed in this episode include:
• The staggering rise in physician side gigs and what’s driving the trend
• How burnout, job dissatisfaction and financial pressures factor in
• The shift from independent practice to hospital employment
• Medicine’s declining intellectual stimulation and the search for creative outlets
• The role of AI in reshaping doctors’ work and financial futures
• What healthcare leaders must do to engage and retain top medical talent

For more raw, unfiltered commentary, listen to the full episode and check out these helpful links:

‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book)

‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

* * *

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #165: Why doctors are doing side gigs appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.