With a nationwide physician shortage looming, recruiting and training the next generation of doctors is critical to shaping the future of medicine. Few understand the challenges—and opportunities—today’s health care workforce environment poses better than Lindsay Mazotti, MD, Sutter Health’s first chief medical officer of medical education and science.
Sutter Health is a member of the AMA Health System Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Dr. Mazotti has spent her career focused on shaping the future of medicine by thinking outside the box in the present. With a deep passion for the science and strategy of training physicians, she is dedicated to expanding and diversifying medical education, and developing innovative training programs that align with the evolving nature of health care.
Her impressive track record in the field also includes vital work at her previous role as a founding faculty member of Kaiser Permanente’s Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, where she was instrumental in developing the medical school’s curriculum.
For Dr. Mazotti, training future doctors is not only crucial to addressing ever-mounting physician workforce challenges, but it’s also deeply personal when it comes to providing excellent patient care.
Graduate medical education (GME) “is an incredible place to spend time because it’s very future focused. It's about looking ahead 15 to 30 years, thinking about the people we want caring for us, our families and our friends,” she said. “Then, we work now to make sure they will be the best possible doctors they can be.”
More than 290 residents and fellows now train across Sutter Health’s 30 accredited GME programs.
At Sutter Health, Dr. Mazotti is leading the system in its bold strategy to attract and retain top clinical talent by growing GME, a plan that began in 2022. By 2030, Sutter will have trained 1,000 residents and fellows across its integrated, community-based divisions.
Reuters recently recognized Dr. Mazotti’s dedication, innovation and success in expanding medical education by naming her a “Trailblazing Woman in Health Care.” The honor recognizes women who excel professionally, influence the industry, make a social impact for people, communities and industries, and demonstrate strong leadership.
In an interview with the AMA, Dr. Mazotti shared why it is so important for health systems today to commit to building and supporting the physician workforce of tomorrow.
AMA: What does it mean to you to be named a trailblazing woman in health care?
Dr. Mazotti:It’s a really big honor—and it’s a very big responsibility. It affirms the work that we've been doing in medical education, strengthening the physician workforce and advancing health care for all.
It also reinforces my commitment to paving the way for the next generation of learners. We know there are significant workforce shortages looming. For a long time, I’ve felt that this work is critical, and this makes me feel like it's being [more widely] recognized that this work is important.
AMA: How has your work in GME influenced the way you mentor and support the next generation of physicians?
Dr. Mazotti: The physician workforce now is more than 50% women. Our trainees are more than 50% women.
Our work in GME has helped me recognize how intentional we must be about mentorship. We need to build supportive networks, advocate for structural changes that foster inclusivity, and develop programs to help bring students from rural and underserved communities into the practice of medicine.
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AMA: Is there a moment at Sutter Health where you felt your leadership made a tangible difference?
Dr. Mazotti: Before I came into this role, there wasn't really a physician leader bringing the pieces of medical education together across the Sutter Health network. This is a very large organization with 28 hospitals that take care of 3.5 million people in Northern California.
We needed to bring physicians closer to the “why” around graduate medical education. We also needed to make sure that the physicians who are coming in to do the teaching and the mentorship of our new residents and fellows are prepared and engaged.
Last year, we brought all the faculty leaders and educators who run these residency programs together, [creating] a community of educators. We helped them feel really connected to the intentional work that we're doing, and it was incredible. Creating a community around education where one didn't exist before has been a profound experience.
AMA: What are you looking forward to next?
Dr. Mazotti: I have the best job that I get to do every day! I can look forward to tomorrow and find something exciting. And I can look forward a decade from now and find something exciting.
The growth of our programs year over year is so rapid that sometimes it doesn't sink in until we have our new intern orientation, which happens every summer. When I see the faces of the new group and feel the growth in the number of people present, what we’re doing feels larger.
I love meeting and interacting with our new interns and fellows—the physicians who will be training with us and who will hopefully be our future colleagues. Our learners at Sutter are instrumental to our organization, and we are a top place to practice medicine, conduct research, learn and receive care. I look forward to seeing and feeling the growth and getting to know the residents and fellows. It’s also exciting to see medical education as a bridge to improving patient care and access.
AMA: Do you have any advice for other leaders in this space?
Dr. Mazotti: It can be really easy in today's environment to feel restricted around the opportunity for growth. There are a lot of challenges in pursuing research and education.
But when you think about the future of health care and the needs of our patients, it becomes clear how critical medical education is to address the physician shortage and increasing access to care. So, it is important for medical education leaders to speak broadly about why medical education is important—and how it links back to patient and community health and the mission of our organizations.
AMA: Do you have any advice for residents, fellows and others who are pursuing a career in medicine?
Dr. Mazotti: The practice and the profession of medicine is an incredible privilege. Remember that your career is a journey, not a fixed path. Stay open to growth, seek out mentors and community, and don’t be afraid to lead—because the field of medicine needs your voice, your ideas and your passion now more than ever.
The AMA GME Competency Education Program delivers education to help institutions effectively meet ACGME common program requirements. The program provides an award-winning virtual experience, with quality education designed for residents on the go. It’s easy to use, saves time and cuts administrative burdens with simple reporting tools. Learn more.
