When an FQHC in Alabama faced an urgent need for a psychiatrist, Search Consultant Amanda Coole targeted mission-minded physicians who would be motivated by the opportunity to make an impact in the community.
In recent years, mental health has taken center stage in national conversations, fueled by greater awareness, reduced stigma, and more widespread documentation of conditions such as anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders. This growing recognition has encouraged more Americans than ever to seek help and support — a positive shift in public health behavior. However, the nation’s mental healthcare infrastructure is struggling to keep up.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five American adults lives with a mental illness, and one in twenty suffers from a serious condition. The percentage receiving treatment ranges between 47% and 65%. Even as demand for mental healthcare surges, the supply of providers remains stagnant — and may even be shrinking. The Association of American Medical Colleges’ Physician Workforce Data shows that 37% of psychiatrists were over 65 in 2022. This suggests a wave of psychiatrist retirements is coming. At a time when the need for accessible, high-quality mental healthcare is more urgent than ever, the U.S. is facing a critical shortage of psychiatrists and other mental healthcare providers.
A National Crisis Felt at a Local Level
As experts explore solutions to the broader shortage, individual facilities are scrambling to attract existing talent. Such was the case at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in an Alabama metro. The practice treats patients with severe mental illness and was in urgent need of a psychiatrist to ease the burden currently managed by the clinic’s sole physician provider. Leadership enlisted Jackson Physician Search to accelerate the search, and recruiter Amanda Coole took the lead. After meeting with the client, she understood the importance of finding a provider who embraced the mission and was ready to make a long-term commitment.
Searching for a Mission-Minded Psychiatrist
Amanda tapped into Jackson Physician Search’s extensive physician job board network to attract candidates. She crafted a job ad emphasizing the position’s strongest selling points: a desirable location, a collaborative team, and professional autonomy. Despite these positives, responses were limited. Amanda suspected the physician compensation package might be a barrier. It fell short compared to other psychiatry roles in the area. As an FQHC, the organization had little room to increase it. However, the ideal candidate wouldn’t be motivated by salary alone. They would need to be inspired by the mission and eager to be part of something meaningful.
Knowing this, Amanda shifted her strategy. Rather than focusing on recent graduates — who are often most influenced by compensation — she began targeting experienced psychiatrists already practicing in the state who might be drawn to the organization’s purpose. According to new research from Jackson Physician Search and LocumTenens.com, nine in ten physicians feel “called” to medicine, and nearly three-fourths were motivated by a desire to help others and serve humanity. Certainly, competitive compensation is important. However, for most physicians, the ability to make an impact is a critical component of their job searches. Amanda would leverage this knowledge and appeal to physicians’ sense of purpose.
A Perfect Match
Using Doximity’s Talent Finder tool, Amanda identified psychiatrists who matched the profile. She also posted the job on Doximity’s job board. This posting led Dr. S to contact Amanda through DocMail for more information.
Amanda responded to Dr. S’s inquiry immediately. Dr. S had extensive experience in the field and was looking for an opportunity to make more of an impact than her last job allowed. The more Amanda learned about Dr. S and her job search priorities, the more persuaded she was that this could be a perfect match. Dr. S was equally enthusiastic. The job listing didn’t mention the hiring organization by name, but once Amanda revealed it, Dr. S realized that she already knew about the organization and had heard excellent things. In fact, while working at a nearby hospital, Dr. S cared for several patients from the center and held it in high regard.
Wasting no time, Amanda presented Dr. S to the client. After a 90-minute phone call with leadership, they invited Dr. S for an on-site interview. The call had gone so well that the visit felt almost like a formality. Amanda advised the client that if they prepared to make an offer, Dr. S would likely be ready to sign during the visit.
Just as Amanda predicted, Dr. S immediately felt at home with the organization. When they presented the offer, she was more than happy to accept on the spot.
Secrets of Psychiatry Recruitment Success
Amanda leaned into the Jackson Physician Search 100% digital physician recruitment strategy. Still, her understanding of who the job would appeal to allowed her to hone in on the most likely candidates. Once she connected with Dr. S on Doximity, Amanda knew she had found someone excited about the FQHC’s mission and was motivated to impact the community. Amanda was transparent about the organization’s limitations when it came to compensation. Fortunately, Dr. S had been practicing long enough to recognize the value of working for an organization whose mission aligned with hers. She felt the trade-off for meaningful work with a supportive and like-minded team was well worth it. The organization was thrilled to bring her on board, and she was able to start making an impact immediately.
If your organization has a tough-to-fill opening, the recruitment team at Jackson Physician Search can help you attract and secure your ideal candidate. Contact us today.
