Dr. E is a young, family medicine practitioner. She did her undergrad in Alabama and her medical degree in Washington, DC. Dr. E was completing her Family Medicine Residency at a large medical center in North Carolina, but was in the process of starting her search for outpatient primary care openings within driving distance of her family who lived in and around Washington, DC.
Searching for the right position on her own, she had received a few offers from large medical systems but had been hesitant to accept any of them. She was finding that the offers were requiring her to commit to five years, in exchange for a $100,000 in student loan assistance. Then, Dr. E responded to an opportunity for a Primary Care provider search being promoted by Jackson Physician Search, Director of Recruitment, Sally Ann Patton. The opportunity was located in Maryland and within driving distance of the nation’s capital. Dr. E and Sally Ann immediately developed a great rapport. Through their initial conversations, Sally Ann quickly understood Dr. E’s concerns about the type of setting she was looking for, her student loan concerns, and she walked her through what a reasonable compensation package might look like without strings attached. She explained what Dr. E should be looking for to provide quality of life, a manageable caseload, and the ability to pay down her student loans.
The opportunity that was being presented to Dr. E was with a 375-bed community hospital system that was primarily physician-led throughout their seven locations. Dr. E met with the key leaders and was immediately taken by the physician-first approach and their focus on the doctor-patient relationship. She found this in contrast to the larger systems that she had been interviewing at, and she appreciated the personable approach that was evident with everyone she met. Another important relationship that played a role in what ultimately turned into a successful placement was the key role that the client’s recruitment lead played in the process.
There were clear lines of communication from the beginning, and the client was very responsive to any questions or concerns raised by Dr. E. When the offer was presented to Dr. E, she had received a couple of other solid offers. Because of the trust and rapport she had built with Sally Ann, she felt confident in her understanding of everything being presented to her and ultimately chose the community setting.
This scenario is not uncommon for young physicians who might be overwhelmed by the frenzied nature of searching for the right opportunity. In this case, the recruitment professional was able to establish a trust-based relationship with the physician, provide guidance about the industry and the inner workings of the contractual offer process, and even help facilitate the open communication between the client and the candidate.
If you are a physician who is ready to start exploring new opportunities to take the next step in your career, or if you are a new physician and want to better understand the industry through the guidance of an experienced physician recruitment professional, contact Jackson Physician Search today.
