Many doctors, especially those who work in hospitals, clinics, emergency rooms and private practice, feel they have no voice in their workplaces. With traditional union density at only 5 to 7% of the profession, they have little collective power to push for structural change in their institutions. But that is changing fast. Earlier this year, 300 doctors at one of Boston’s largest and most prestigious hospital systems voted to organize with Doctors Council SEIU (SEIU represents teachers; paraprofessionals, school-related staff, higher education faculty and professional employees, federal, state and local government workers; nurses and healthcare workers). The vote was the culmination of months of organizing work that involved educating and mobilizing physicians.

The result of that work was a historic victory: the doctors won their first contract and won substantial pay increases. The victory shattered the myth that doctors won’t organize, and it highlighted the need for more advocacy by the nation’s doctors to protect their ability to provide quality care to patients.

Historically, most doctors have been independent, with 31% practicing in physician-owned private practices and the remainder employed by or contracted to a hospital or health system. Over the past several years, however, more and more of these independent physicians have sold their practices to health systems or other large corporations and private equity firms. This trend has accelerated in the last five years, with almost 40% of all physicians now working in employer-owned or -controlled practices.

While these changes have been disruptive to the medical profession, many of its leaders remain committed to preserving their autonomy, independence and integrity. Some have even gone so far as to denounce the idea of organized medicine as “anti-patient.” But other doctors recognize that the current conditions in which they work are not sustainable and that they can’t continue doing their best for their patients without a stronger voice in their own workplaces.

The goal of any organization of doctors is to improve their workplaces. In addition to improving wages and benefits, there are a number of other strategies that could help create a healthier culture in which doctors can thrive. These include developing leaders, cultivating community and organizational culture, improving practice efficiency, and reforming administrative policies.

Doctors who organize can also play a crucial role in pushing for policy change to address the root causes of dissatisfaction and burnout. For example, the Endocrine Society recently railed against a lockstep price increase by an oligopoly of insulin manufacturers that has led patients to ration their medication and potentially die as a consequence. And they can make their voices heard through the American Medical Association and other physician specialty groups, which can influence public policy on issues ranging from repealing the Affordable Care Act to the use of Medicare supplemental payments to pay for drugs such as insulin. This can be done without jeopardizing the independence and integrity of individual medical societies, which can focus on their members’ specific professional interests.