Empowering Physicians to Lead
Our mission is to empower all physicians to provide high-quality care and take a leadership role in shaping the future of health care. We carry out our mission by being steadfast in strengthening the physician-patient relationship, supporting medical practices’ sustainability and helping physicians navigate the changing health care system.
We Believe
The medical profession’s central tenet is the primacy of physicians’ duty to their patients.
The profession of medicine and the integrity of the patient-physician relationship are essential elements of high-quality health care.
The perspective of practicing physicians is critical to the ongoing discourse on how to improve health care delivery in our country.
Our Priorities
We pursue our mission through research, education and innovative grantmaking that improves physician wellbeing, strengthens physician leadership, addresses drivers of health and lifts physician perspectives.
Physician Wellbeing
Address with urgency the immediate and ongoing impediments to physician wellbeing and provide the basis for improved practice environments and professional fulfillment.
Physician Leadership
Strengthen collective and individual physician leadership across the nation, in a variety of practice environments and at every career phase, with consideration for early-career and under-represented physician populations.
Drivers of Health
Continue to build broad-based understanding of the drivers of health and their implications for patients and physicians.
Physician Perspectives
Ensure that the physician’s perspective is a significant factor in decision-making and policy-development at the state and national levels by leveraging foundation research and engaging in effective collaborations.
Our History
The Physicians Foundation was founded in 2003 after a class-action lawsuit brought about by physicians, 19 state medical societies and three county medical societies against private third-party payers resulted in a significant monetary settlement. This settlement led to the establishment of the Physicians Foundation, an 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which has grown to become a leading voice for physicians across America.
Since its inception, the Physicians Foundation has awarded numerous grants totaling more than $49 million to organizations including nonprofits, universities, hospital systems and medical society foundations. Grantees, in turn, have made significant strides in the development of research and resources to strengthen the physician-patient relationship, support medical practices’ sustainability and help physicians be leaders in our ever-changing health care system–ultimately delivering optimal care to their patients.