Burnout, often regarded as an individual failing, rather than a systemic one, negatively impacts quality of care, patient safety and healthcare costs. Focusing on improving well-being can help mitigate burnout. This study examined protective factors that promote well-being and professional fulfillment in surgeons. Using a purposive sample, 32 semi-structured 30-60-min interviews were conducted with surgeons of varying sub-specialties and rank. Abductive exploratory analysis was used to code and interpret interview transcripts and to build a conceptual model of surgeon well-being. Emergent protective factors were placed into one of three levels of implementation: individual, team-level, and institutional (figure). Individual factors for well-being included autonomy and adequate time to pursue non-clinical endeavors. Team-level factors consisted of adaptability, boundaries, and cohesion. Institutional factors related to diversifying performance evaluations and celebrating and recognizing individual value and contributions. The conceptual model developed from the results of this study highlights factors important to surgeons’ professional well-being. This model can be used to guide quality improvement efforts. •Well-being research benefits from qualitative interviewing methods that encourage community-building rather than transactional exchanges.•Our conceptual framework of professional fulfillment distributes responsibility rather than focusing solely upon individuals.•Administrative and staff support are key for well-being intervention because they underpin all other protective factors.