Health System Committed to Raise Awareness about Emotional Toll of Burnout
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Sept. 16, 2025 – UNC Health is standing out among the best in the nation for its program to reduce physician burnout and suicide. The American Medical Association (AMA) has named the health care system one of its 2025 Joy in Medicine organizations, an award achieved for many consecutive years. UNC Health is recognized for its efforts to implement programs and policies that support well-being among its clinicians and staff as well as for its work to build awareness about solutions that promote joy in medicine.
“At UNC Health, the well-being of our teammates is a prioritized goal that goes hand in hand with patient care,” says Dr. Nadia Charguia, executive medical director of Well-Being for UNC Health. “We’ve led significant innovation, working directly with UNC Health teammates to understand, advocate and develop systems to approach meaningful change that would have direct impact on them.”
A large example of that innovation is rooted in UNC Health’s efforts to remove the stigma associated with physician and clinician mental health needs. “Robust data confirms the dark reality that doctors and other healthcare workers struggle with suicidal thoughts, we understand why it is so important to acknowledge it; otherwise, we allow it to exist in the shadows,” Charguia said.
The UNC Health Wellbeing program works in a number of capacities with key partners, cultivating foundational resources to support our teammates as well as leading system change efforts to support the quadruple aim of improving the workplace experience for our teammates. UNC Health is committed to promote a better workplace experience for all employees. Dr. Charguia oversees a system-wide initiative. Dr. Charguia oversees a system-wide initiative aimed at doing just that via the recently launched GROSS Program (Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff).
“There is not a clearer way to say it, we have stupid stuff that gets in the way of our day to day, policies that feel redundant, tasks that are repetitive and time consuming. GROSS is platform to engage our teammates and learn from their experience, we want to hear about those pebbles in their shoes as well as any suggestions they may have for not only what we can get rid of, but what things we could be better,” Charguia explains. “It’s about trying to help our teammates be able to do the job that they came each day to do, spend more time with the patients they want to see and get rid of the extraneous stuff that gets in the way.”
UNC Health is one of 109 hospitals, health systems and medical groups honored on 2025 Joy in Medicine list. Each healthcare organization will remain on the list for the next two years.
“Joy in Medicine organizations are leading the gains made against the physician burnout crisis and help clinicians rediscover the deep rewards and joy that comes from helping patients,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. “The AMA distinction honors each organization’s commitment to not only the health and well-being of the care team, but also to patients. Quality care ultimately originates from a positive and purposeful work culture where health care professionals can flourish both mentally and physically.”
About UNC Health
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 20 hospitals and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of the UNC School of Medicine.
UNC Health exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching and research mission of the UNC School of Medicine. UNC Health provided more than $800 million in Uncompensated Charity Care during the past five years. Our hospitals have received numerous awards and recognition for quality care, patient safety, and the overall patient experience. For more information, please visit unchealth.org.