Inside physician engagement: What doctors want leaders to finally hear

Bill Heller, chief operating officer at CHG Healthcare, distills the clearest message physicians are sending through the 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey.

Physicians want leadership to be present, accessible and engaged — not distant or purely administrative. Across the survey, doctors consistently pointed to visibility, listening and follow-through as signals that their work and expertise are valued.

Heller says that concern for physician well-being is no longer optional. Burnout and frustration remain high, and physicians are looking for leaders who acknowledge that reality and act on it. That doesn’t always mean sweeping reforms or major spending. Often, it means making space for physician input, responding to concerns and reinforcing that patient care — not bureaucracy — is the priority.

At its core, the message is simple: physicians want time to practice medicine. When leaders show up, listen and protect that time, engagement follows. When they don’t, even satisfied physicians begin to disengage — and eventually look elsewhere.

For healthcare leaders, Heller’s takeaway is straightforward and urgent: engagement isn’t built through slogans or surveys alone. It’s built through daily actions that show physicians they’re heard, supported and central to the mission.