Interventions to Address Wellness Among Surgical Faculty: A Scoping Review
Kameela Miriam Alibhai, Jordyn Vernon, Teruko Kishibe, Julie Maggi, Tyler R. Chesney, Marisa LouridasObjective:
To synthesize evidence on wellness interventions for faculty surgeons.
Introduction:
Burnout affects 35% to 60% of surgeons and is associated with emotional exhaustion, reduced perceived competence, medical errors, and workforce attrition. Although surgeon wellness has gained attention, most interventions target trainees rather than faculty, whose stressors are often different.
Methods:
Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 5 databases were searched from inception to August 2025. Eligible studies evaluated interventions addressing mental or physical/ergonomic wellness among faculty surgeons across all specialties. Reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument.
Results:
Twenty-one studies met inclusion criteria. Interventions targeted mental (n = 17), and/or physical/ergonomic (n = 7) domains of wellness, with moderate heterogeneity in design and outcome measures. Overall, 76% of studies reported significant improvements, including burnout, resilience, and musculoskeletal strain. System-level interventions (eg, modified staffing models, intraoperative breaks, and clinic scribes) more consistently demonstrated benefit compared with individual-focused programs (eg, mindfulness and yoga), which showed variable effects. Only 14% of studies assessed durability beyond the immediate follow-up period, with diminishing effects over time. Feasibility was inconsistently reported and inferred from surrogate measures, such as participant feedback or attrition.
Conclusions:
Faculty-specific wellness interventions show promise, particularly those targeting structural workplace factors. However, the evidence base remains limited by short follow-up and inadequate feasibility data. Future research should prioritize rigorously designed, faculty-specific interventions that address systemic drivers of burnout and evaluate sustainability and real-world implementation.