Physicians’ closest friends tend to mirror them, same life stage, similar socioeconomic background and shared political views, according to Medscape’s “Physician Friendships Report 2026,” published Aug. 25.
Medscape surveyed 1,002 physicians across 20 specialties from March 5 to May 22.
Here are six things to know:
1. Most physicians’ friends are at the same life stage as them. Forty-two percent of physicians agreed their friends are at the same life stage — citing examples like marriage, children and jobs — and another 31% “slightly agreed.” Just 13% were neutral, and 14% disagreed or slightly disagreed (10% slightly disagreed, 4% disagreed).
2. Friends tend to come from a similar socioeconomic background. Thirty-two percent of physicians agreed their friends share a similar socioeconomic background and 37% slightly agreed, for a combined 69%. Sixteen percent were neutral, and 14% disagreed or slightly disagreed.
3. Shared political and social views are common among physicians’ friends. Thirty-eight percent of physicians agreed their friends share their social and political views and 31% slightly agreed. Nineteen percent were neutral, and just 12% disagreed or slightly disagreed (9% slightly disagreed, 3% disagreed).
4. About a quarter of male physicians have befriended a patient. Twenty-six percent of male physicians said they have developed a friendship with a patient, compared with 21% of female physicians.
5. Nearly all physicians have given medical advice to a friend. Ninety-five percent of physicians said they’ve given a friend medical advice at some point, while just 5% said they haven’t.
Most physicians have friends of the opposite sex. Seventy-nine percent of male physicians and 78% of female physicians said they have friends of the opposite sex.
6. Six percent of male physicians and 4% of female physicians said a friend has gotten too close to their spouse or romantic partner.
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