Article, podcast discuss physician collective action
Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, MACP, reflects on the evolution of physician unions and collective action in medicine, from her training in the 1980s to today.
In a recent post at KevinMD.com, Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, MACP, former ACP Treasurer, reflects on the evolution of physician unions and collective action in medicine. She recalls her own residency experience in the 1980s, when long hours and heavy workloads were accepted as the norm, and compares it to today's landscape, where resident education and wellness are central concerns.
Dr. Jokela notes that physician unions are now expanding across the country—from Massachusetts General Hospital to Stanford and George Washington University. Increasingly, even employed physicians are exploring unionization in response to administrative burdens, diminished professional autonomy, and barriers to advocating for patient care.
Read Dr. Jokela's article or listen to the accompanying podcast to learn more.