For many physicians, burnout is not simply a matter of working too hard. It is the result of working in systems that make it harder to practice medicine with purpose, autonomy, and presence.

Across health care, physicians are reevaluating what they need from their careers. They want more than a place to work; they want a place where their clinical judgment is respected, their voice matters, and their daily practice remains connected to the reasons they chose to pursue a career in medicine in the first place.

As a mission-driven health system, SSM Health is focused on restoring the joy of medicine by creating practice environments where physicians feel connected, supported, and heard. It’s an approach that continues to earn our system national recognition, including being named one of Newsweek’s 2026 America’s Greatest Workplaces for Culture, Belonging & Community, and one of Becker’s Healthcare’s Top Places to Work in Health Care.

For physicians who choose SSM Health, the connection begins with a shared Mission.

“SSM Health’s Mission and Values to me are very important. I feel called to work here,” says Sharilyn Munneke, MD, family medicine physician with SSM Health Dean Medical Group in Wisconsin.

When Physicians Have a Voice

One of the greatest frustrations physicians face today is the feeling that decisions about care are being made farther and farther away from the exam room.

At SSM Health, physicians are encouraged to help shape the systems in which they practice. From leadership opportunities to care model design, physicians are active participants in solving the challenges facing modern health care.

Because when health systems and physicians are aligned around the same purpose, everyone benefits — especially patients.

That alignment helps restore something many clinicians are searching for: the satisfaction that comes from practicing medicine, not simply managing it.

Practicing With Purpose

Physicians understand the demands of medicine. To a degree, they’ve come to expect complexity, long hours, and difficult decisions that come with the profession. But they don’t want to lose the ability to practice in ways that reflect their training, values, and commitment to patients.

At SSM Health, physicians find a culture that supports them to focus on patient care. They are encouraged to build meaningful patient relationships, trusted to use their training to exercise clinical judgment, and equipped with the tools and resources that allow them to be fully present with their patients.

“My favorite, most fun moments are the privilege of being able to take care of patients,” says Bob Pendleton, MD, Chief Clinical Officer for SSM Health’s St. Louis and Southern Illinois region.

That patient-centered purpose is echoed across our health system.

“I think the people that inspire me the most are the patients,” says Jennifer Krupp, MD, OB/GYN practicing in Madison, Wisconsin.

Creating an environment where physicians feel connected to their work and to the joy of healing patients is how we’re building a practice setting that is rewarding and purposeful.

A Community of Colleagues

Autonomy at SSM Health doesn’t mean practicing alone. Physicians describe a culture where collaboration, trust, and relationships create a genuine sense of belonging.

“I felt like I belonged here right away. Everybody was so warm and welcoming,” recalls Haleigh Hughes, DO, family medicine physician practicing in Jefferson City, Missouri.

“We pride ourselves on our collegial relationships and building friendships,” says Amy Franta, MD, Regional Chief Clinical Officer for SSM Health’s Wisconsin region.

For Jamie Petzke, MD, family medicine physician and hospitalist in Baraboo, Wisconsin, those relationships became a defining part of her experience. “I feel like I found a group of friends and family that really fit my needs.”

A Different Kind of Practice

Medicine will always be demanding. But physicians should never have to choose between caring for patients and finding fulfillment in their work.

At SSM Health, the goal is simple: create practice environments where Mission and medicine are aligned, where physicians have the support and agency to do what they do best, and where the work of caring for others remains deeply meaningful.

For physicians and advanced practitioners seeking a place where purpose still guides practice, SSM Health offers something increasingly rare — a practice you can believe in.

Together – We Care.

Learn more about our practices at JoinSSMHealth.com