NYC Health + Hospitals Advances to Silver Recognition in the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program
The health system is one of 92 nationwide to earn the recognition across Gold, Silver and Bronze designations this year
Oct 13, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals announced it has earned the Silver-level Joy in Medicine recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) for enhancing physician well-being, supporting quality care, and reducing burnout. Burnout rates continue to decline, yet U.S. physicians still face a higher risk for burnout than other U.S. workers. Challenges like administrative burden, staffing shortages and stigma around mental health continue to add stress to physicians’ daily lives. Continued efforts to address these issues can help ensure doctors receive the support they need to thrive, both personally and professionally, and provide the best possible care for their patients.
The AMA’s Joy in Medicine® program recognizes healthcare organizations that take meaningful steps to improve physician well-being and reduce burnout through organizational initiatives and evidence-based strategies. Advancing to Silver recognition marks continued progress for NYC Health + Hospitals as it strengthens its efforts to support the people who care for New Yorkers across its hospitals, community health centers, and other care settings.
“Advancing from Bronze to Silver designation in the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine® Health System Recognition Program reflects the continued dedication of NYC Health + Hospitals to fostering a healthier, more supportive workplace for our healthcare professionals,” said Jeremy Segall, MA, RDT, LCAT, FPCC, System Chief Wellness Officer and Assistant Vice President, Human Experience. “This achievement demonstrates the meaningful progress we are making to address burnout, strengthen staff well-being, and cultivate a culture where our people feel valued, connected, and fulfilled in their work. By prioritizing the well-being of our workforce, we empower our teams to reconnect with the purpose that brought them to healthcare and to deliver care with greater compassion, engagement, and meaning. Supporting the people who care for our communities is essential to advancing our mission, vision, and values and enhancing the experience of everyone who receives and provides care.”
Healthcare professionals work in demanding environments that require clinical expertise, compassion, resilience, and sustained emotional engagement. Recognizing the importance of workforce well-being, NYC Health + Hospitals continues to advance an organizational culture that prioritizes the human experience of its staff alongside the care and services provided to patients.
Through its system-wide focus on wellness, NYC Health + Hospitals works to strengthen the connection between individual well-being, professional purpose, and organizational culture. These efforts recognize that supporting healthcare professionals requires more than individual resilience; it also calls for a shared commitment to creating workplace environments where staff members feel supported, connected to their colleagues, and aligned with the mission of public healthcare.
The advancement to Silver recognition underscores the system’s continued work to elevate staff well-being as an organizational priority. It also reinforces the importance of collaboration across the healthcare system to address burnout, encourage meaningful engagement, and support a workforce equipped to meet the evolving needs of New York City’s diverse communities.
NYC Health + Hospitals’ workforce wellness initiatives have been effective in enhancing staff wellbeing. In a survey of over 3,700 of its physicians, residents, and fellows, NYC Health + Hospitals found that clinician wellbeing had improved in 2025 compared to 2023:
- Overall stress reduced by 6.5%
- Compassion fatigue reduced by 5.6%
- Anxiety reduced by 8%
- Feelings of sadness reduced by 18.2%
- Feeling completely burned out reduced by 33%
The Joy in Medicine® recognition reflects a broader commitment to making the practice of medicine more sustainable and rewarding. For NYC Health + Hospitals, that commitment is rooted in the understanding that the well-being of healthcare professionals and the experience of patients are closely connected.
To meet requirements of the AMA Joy in Medicine award, NYC Health + Hospitals had to:
- Measure physician well-being and identify organizational drivers of burnout.
- Demonstrate leadership commitment and accountability for workforce well-being.
- Document efforts to improve workflows, reduce administrative burden and address inefficient systems.
- Show how care teams are structured and supported to improve collaboration and reduce workload.
- Demonstrate leadership practices that promote physician well-being and a healthy work environment.
- Provide organizational programs and resources that foster connection, peer support and professional well-being.
By fostering a culture that values the people behind the care, the system aims to help healthcare professionals maintain a strong connection to their purpose while navigating the challenges of delivering care in complex clinical settings. These efforts support a workplace culture in which compassion, collaboration, and professional fulfillment remain central to the healthcare experience.
As NYC Health + Hospitals builds on this achievement, the system remains focused on sustaining progress, strengthening organizational support for its workforce, and advancing an environment where healthcare professionals can thrive while serving the people and communities of New York City.
“Achieving Silver-level recognition reflects NYC Health + Hospitals’ commitment to making physician well-being a foundational priority, not an afterthought. We recognize that physician well-being is inextricably linked to the quality of care we provide; when physicians are supported and able to thrive, our patients and the entire health system benefit. This recognition reinforces our on-going commitment to fostering a culture where physician wellness is embedded in how deliver care every day,” said Tiffany Vasconcellos, MA, FPCC, Director, Workforce Wellness
“Winning the AMA Joy in Medicine Silver Level Award is a meaningful recognition of the passion, dedication and teamwork that go into creating a culture where physicians and care teams can thrive,” said Michael Bouton MD, MBA, Chief Medical and Health Information Officer. “I am proud to be part of an organization committed to supporting the well-being and joy of those who care for our patients every day.”
The move from Bronze to Silver recognition represents an important milestone in this ongoing journey and reaffirms NYC Health + Hospitals’ commitment to the people whose expertise, dedication, and compassion make its mission possible.
Since its inception in 2019, the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program has recognized more than 100 organizations across the country. In 2026, a total of 194 health systems nationwide earned recognition with documented efforts to reduce system-level drivers of work-related burnout and demonstrated competencies in commitment, assessment, leadership, efficiency of practice environment, teamwork, and support.
“Supporting physician well-being helps create better care for everyone,” said AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH. “Studies show that when physicians are supported, patients benefit from safer, higher-quality care and a better overall experience. Organizations recognized by the Joy in Medicine Program lead the way by investing in workplaces that support physicians and help them deliver compassionate, high-quality care. The AMA is proud to honor these leaders for their commitment to fostering positive, purposeful work cultures where physician well-being can flourish and the deep rewards of caring for patients can be fully experienced.”
Learn more about the AMA Joy in Medicine Health System Recognition Program at ama-assn.org/joyinmedicine.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.