Which physician specialty is the happiest? 

Plastic surgeons are the happiest physicians outside of work, a Feb. 24 Medscape report found. 

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Medscape surveyed 9,100 practicing physicians from June 28 to Oct. 3 on burnout and happiness.  

Here’s how the specialties rank on happiness outside of work by percentage of physician who reported feeling happy or very happy outside of work:

  • Plastic surgery: 71 percent 
  • Public health and preventive medicine: 69 percent
  • Orthopedics: 65 percent
  • Otolaryngology: 65 percent
  • Urology: 63 percent
  • Physical medicine and rehabilitation: 63 percent
  • Ophthalmology: 62 percent
  • Dermatology: 62 percent 
  • Pathology: 62 percent
  • Gastroenterology: 62 percent
  • Radiology: 61 percent
  • Pediatrics: 60 percent
  • General surgery: 59 percent
  • Pulmonary medicine: 59 percent 
  • Nephrology: 58 percent
  • Diabetes and endocrinology: 58 percent
  • Psychiatry: 58 percent
  • Anesthesiology: 58 percent
  • Obstetrics/gynecology: 57 percent
  • Internal medicine: 57 percent
  • Family medicine: 56 percent
  • Cardiology: 56 percent
  • Emergency medicine: 55 percent
  • Critical care: 55 percent
  • Allergy and immunology: 55 percent
  • Neurology: 54 percent
  • Oncology: 51 percent
  • Rheumatology: 51 percent
  • Infectious Disease: 47 percent

At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.

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