Neurology Tops the Burnout List: How Sevaro is Rewriting the Future for Neurologists
Neurology Tops the Burnout List: How Sevaro is Rewriting the Future for Neurologists
By Melanie J. Winningham, MD & Sevaro Team
The best parts of being a physician:
- Connecting with other humans, often at one of their most vulnerable moments.
- The rush of acting quickly to intervene on another person’s behalf and providing care that staves off death and disability.
- Knowing that there’s always something to learn or something to teach – I am pleasantly challenged by something or someone every day.
Things I dread:
- The stomach-sinking feeling of piled-up work at the end of a long day.
- Documentation waiting for you when you’re emotionally and mentally spent from giving 110% to the humans you love to connect with and care for.
- Feeling distracted by unwanted notifications, redundant calls, and other things that take your attention away from what actually matters to you – your patient and their family.
We all want to give our full attention with genuine emotional connection to our patient. I know I do, and I’m not alone. However, despite the astounding scientific and technological advancements of the past ten years, work towards supporting the patient care encounter and the provider performing it has been lacking.
Documentation requirements, billing, inboxes, pagers, secure chat, snail mail with paperwork to complete.
A barrage of distraction and disorganized responsibility.
New Data, Familiar Problem. A Harsh Reality for Neurologists.
According to Medscape’s newly released 2025 “Physician Mental Health & Well-Being Report,” Neurology ranks #1 in physician burnout, with a staggering 43% of neurologists reporting symptoms. Nearly 1 in 5 neurologists reported feeling both burned out and depressed.
The numbers are stark, but not surprising, given everything we know about the complex clinical and administrative tasks that neurologists must manage.
The rise in burnout among neurologists isn’t difficult to understand – they are on the frontlines of some of medicine’s most time-sensitive, emotionally taxing conditions – from ischemic strokes to traumatic brain injuries to progressive neurodegenerative diseases.
Combine this with:
- Complex diagnostic responsibilities
- Long shifts and frequent on-call demands
- Staffing shortages
- Increasing documentation burdens
- Fragmented systems that slow down care
…and it’s no wonder neurologists are overwhelmed.
Burnout in this specialty affects the physicians, patient outcomes, hospital efficiency, and the long-term sustainability of Neurology itself.
These statistics around burnout rates reflect a deep, systemic challenge across healthcare – but for those of us in the world of stroke and neurology, they hit particularly close to home.
At Sevaro, we’re aware of this crisis—and we are actively, intentionally, and unapologetically designing against it.
We believe the way forward starts with one fundamental truth: You can’t fix provider burnout with just another meeting or more compensation. Real change comes from smarter tools, workload management, a supportive culture, and leaders who’ve walked the same path.
At Sevaro, we’re not just physician-friendly – we are physician-led.
A Company Led by Physicians, for Physicians
Our clinical leadership team includes some of the most respected neurologists in the country, and nearly every senior leader in our organization is an active, practicing physician.
That matters—because it means we’re not designing solutions in a vacuum. We’re building systems that we use ourselves in clinical practice—solutions we know can truly revolutionize neurological care.
Our physicians benefit from innovation—and they feel the impact of leadership that truly understands and supports them.
One provider who joined Sevaro after working for a competitor shared, “The fact that I get calls from the leadership team to check in is something that would have never happened at my previous employer.” Another remarked, “There is a very supportive leadership, and every leader is super dedicated.”
At Sevaro, leadership is more than a title—it’s a presence that’s personal, involved, and committed.
We Understand What It Feels Like to Be on the Clock, Under Pressure, Alone.
So we created a virtual stroke care model that never leaves a provider unsupported. Our virtual neurologists are part of a high-performing clinical team—connected, supported, and equipped with tools that make fast, effective care easier.
We’re not here to burn out brilliant minds. We’re here to elevate them.
Culture Isn’t a Perk. It’s the Product.
In a world where physician burnout is often treated like an HR problem, we see it as a design flaw.
That’s why our culture is built from the ground up to empower and sustain clinicians:
Flexibility & Autonomy
Our providers work remotely, with flexible schedules and balanced workloads. No long commutes. No double shifts. Just focused, high-impact clinical care delivered with clarity and purpose.
Collaboration Over Isolation
We’ve built a model where neurologists don’t work in silos. Every provider is part of a connected, responsive community—backed by 24/7 support and transparent leadership communication.
Purpose Over Pressure
Sevaro’s mission is centered on transforming stroke care through technology and human connection. Our physicians aren’t just clocking in—they’re helping reshape the future of their field.
And our providers feel that difference every day. Many have shared how meaningful it is to work in a culture where support isn’t just a promise—it’s a practice.
My fellow neurologists weigh in…
- One provider noted, “The inner team has a good culture of helping out and checking on each other with workloads. The team backing is real.”
- Another added, “Leadership has been amazing—supportive, always advocating for me, and walking alongside me to make sure I have the help I need. Everyone has stepped in when it mattered most, especially during busy times.”
- A third shared, “I really appreciate the time I’ve had working here. The collaboration feels like a true team effort—so different from in-house neurology, where you’re often the only person. This is a collaborative approach, and people are easy to reach out to.”
- And for many, the model has changed their lives beyond the hospital:
“I don’t have to commute, and I love working from home—it’s been the most rewarding thing for my family to have me present. And I know I’m making a difference for patients quickly.”
At Sevaro, you’re never alone. You’re part of something stronger.
The Technology: Built by Clinicians, for Clinicians
Our clinician leaders at Sevaro came together with an amazing tech team to create solutions that support our providers by maximizing their time, reducing the documentation effort, and streamlining communication in novel ways to allow them to focus on what matters most – our patients.
The right technology doesn’t replace physicians. It recharges them.
Our clinician leaders at Sevaro came together with an amazing tech team to create solutions that support our providers by maximizing their time, reducing the documentation effort, and streamlining communication in novel ways to allow them to focus on what matters most – our patients.
That’s the philosophy behind Synapse AI—our proprietary, end-to-end stroke care platform designed to reduce friction, speed up decision-making, and eliminate the bottlenecks that wear neurologists down.
Providers are supported by an AI-assisted documentation process, a user-friendly phone application that lets them take the stroke triage process anywhere and everywhere, and a virtual care dashboard that brings all of their patient care tools into one easy-to-use space.
One stop to access your EMRs, video platform, and AI-imaging software.
Access to this innovative set of tech tools has made patient care something that I look forward to because I feel supported and efficient. It has made a world of difference for me as a stroke neurologist. I don’t think I could go back to practicing any other way.
The Synapse AI Difference
Real-Time Data. Fewer Clicks.
Through Premium Analytics, a key feature of Synapse AI, providers can access live performance metrics, stroke workflow timelines, and case documentation insights without chasing down data or refreshing clunky EMRs.
Streamlined Workflows = More Clinical Time
Synapse AI eliminates repetitive tasks and automates parts of the documentation process, letting providers focus on what they do best—clinical decision-making, not data entry.
Instant Connection. No Delays.
When seconds matter, Synapse AI ensures that a neurologist is connected to the bedside in under 45 seconds.
That means less waiting, more action, and a true sense of professional impact. And our physicians have shared that one of the most rewarding parts of working with this technology is its reach.
“The ability to care for more patients across the country—in a faster, more efficient way—has been incredibly meaningful.”
Final Thoughts: This Is Personal
For the leadership at Sevaro, this report is a call to action.
Many of us have experienced burnout firsthand. We’ve stayed up all night, second-guessing decisions. We’ve missed family milestones, buried in documentation. We’ve felt the crushing weight of too much to do and not enough time to do it.
But now, we’re building something better.
To every neurologist reading this: You deserve support. You deserve better tools. You deserve to love the work you trained for.
And at Sevaro, that’s what we’re here to deliver.
Whether you’re a health system facing burnout challenges or a vascular neurologist looking for a more balanced, meaningful career—we’re here to help.
- Connect with us today to talk through your biggest challenges and see how Sevaro’s physician-led model and Synapse AI technology can make a real difference.
- We’re hiring, too — join a team that’s rebuilding stroke care with you in mind.
