Burnout is common among physicians. Chronic sources of burnout have been previously examined, but little is known about the impact of acute stressors on physician burnout. Otolaryngology residents applying for competitive fellowships provide a good example for how professional disappointment may cause burnout. As otolaryngology comprises highly successful, highly competitive individuals, a long history of success may leave otolaryngologists ill-equipped to cope with such failures. Otolaryngologists should be aware of such pitfalls, preparing appropriate coping mechanisms in cases of professional disappointment.
FletcherAMPagedarNSmithRJH. Factors correlating with burnout in practicing otolaryngologists. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;146:234-239.
4.
GolubJSJohnsMMWeissPSRameshAKOssoffRH.Burnout in academic faculty of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. Laryngoscope. 2008;118:1951-1956.
5.
GolubJSWeissPSRameshAKOssoffRHJohnsMM.Burnout in residents of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery: a national inquiry into the health of residency training. Acad Med. 2007;82:596-601.
6.
ShanafeltTDKaupsKLNelsonHet al. An interactive individualized intervention to promote behavioral change to increase personal well-being in US surgeons. Ann Surg. 2014;259:82-88.
7.
RyanMWJohnsonF.Fellowship training in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2007;40:1311-1322.
8.
GolubJSOssoffRHJohnsMM.Fellowship and career path preferences in residents of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Laryngoscope. 2011;121:882-887.
9.
HullBPDarrowDHDerkayCS.The financial value of fellowship training in otolaryngology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013;148:906-911.
10.
FolkmanS. Stress: appraisal and coping. In: GellmanMDTurnerJR, eds. Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. New York, NY: Springer; 2013:1913-1915.
