Jackson Physician Search filled a critical oncology vacancy in rural Plattsburgh, New York, in just 110 days — overcoming location challenges and credentialing hurdles to connect the perfect physician with a community in need.
The clock was ticking for a Vermont health network’s Plattsburgh facility. What had once been a four-physician oncology department had dwindled to just two providers focused on lung and breast cancer, leaving gaps in comprehensive hematology-oncology care that expensive locums physicians were struggling to fill. The facility needed generalists—and they needed them fast.
The organization knew it had a challenging search ahead. Plattsburgh’s rural location in northern New York, 45 minutes by ferry from its main campus, was a tough sell for most candidates. There would be no large, highly specialized team, nor immediate access to the main academic center. Just a smaller hospital with a collaborative team serving an older, close-knit community that included both local residents and military families from the nearby base.
A Recruiting Cold Front Moves In
When the health network partnered with Jackson Physician Search, Senior Search Consultant Megan Corbett had seen this pattern before. Her outreach would be received with enthusiasm, but once they learned about the Plattsburgh location and practice structure, interest would turn cold.
Megan needed to find someone who would see Plattsburgh’s unique attributes as benefits, not barriers.
Opportunity Calls
Megan began her approach by creating job ads posted 24/7 on the 10+ job boards we leverage at Jackson Physician Search. She carefully reviewed profiles to identify candidates whose personal and professional circumstances might align with what Plattsburgh offered. Just 14 days after the search opened in October, she found Dr. R on Doc Cafe.
The 64-year-old oncologist was working at a VA that Megan knew had a reputation for crushing caseloads and a revolving door of burned-out physicians. Her strategy was to present the opportunity in Plattsburgh as a respite from a chaotic, urban hospital that would allow for work-life balance in a charming, historic city on the calm shores of Lake Champlain. Instead of being constantly on call and overworked, she would have four clinic days plus one administrative day each week, with 100% virtual call coverage.
When Megan called, Dr. R’s enthusiasm about Plattsburgh was immediate and genuine — despite picking up the call while grocery shopping. She was already familiar with the Lake Champlain community and had personal connections in the town of the organization’s main campus. This wasn’t a candidate who needed to be convinced about the location — she was already sold.
Coasting Toward Close After a Bump in the Road
But there was a glitch: Dr. R’s board certification had lapsed in 2003, though she remained board-eligible. Knowing this is a common challenge many physicians face during career transitions or family-focused years, Megan got to work to ensure it would not be a disqualifying factor.
To bypass the obstacle, she worked with the organization’s leadership to show them the bigger picture, highlighting that Dr. R was actively participating in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s recertification pathway and underscoring the wealth of clinical experience she would bring. Most importantly, Dr. R was eager to make a change and could relocate without delay.
Leadership agreed. The initial board certification challenge added a month to the process, but they were willing to work through it because they recognized they’d found a highly qualified candidate who wanted to carve out a place in their community.
An Onsite Visit Inspires a Doctor to Leave a Legacy
Dr. R’s onsite visit was scheduled on a cold January day. After meeting with the staff, she was thrilled to find a team that was so dedicated to the practice, one another, and the community. It was a stark contrast to what she was experiencing in her current role, where she was overworked and underpaid, with no possibility for change in sight.
The organization’s academic component sealed the deal. Just as Megan suspected, Dr. R lit up at the prospect of being part of regaining its status as a premier research institution — it would be a crowning achievement at the end of her career.
Imperfect Conditions Net the Perfect Candidate in 110 Days
This healthcare organization demonstrated flexibility and commitment throughout the negotiations. In addition to working around the board certification challenge and through the complexities of the academic aspects of the position, they were willing to offer a relocation package and signing bonus to the already competitive compensation offer.
After only 110 days from initial contact to final placement — including holiday scheduling delays — Dr. R signed her contract in early February. The hospital would have nearly the whole year to get back on its feet, with a happy oncologist filling gaps in care.
For healthcare organizations facing difficult recruitment challenges — whether due to location, compensation constraints, or specific practice requirements — Dr. R’s placement offers an important lesson: success isn’t always about having the most attractive position on paper. With a little luck and a motivated recruiter, you can connect with a candidate who’s looking for a role exactly like yours.
Do you have a challenging role to fill? Whether you’re facing a critical staffing shortage, need to fill a highly specialized position, or are competing for talent in a tight market, the recruitment team at Jackson Physician Search brings a strategic approach and deep network to find the best candidates. We don’t just fill positions — we identify physicians whose personal goals, professional values, and life circumstances align perfectly with your organization and the community it serves.
Contact us today!
