When a coastal Maine hospital needed a urogynecologist to relaunch its women’s health practice, Jackson Physician Search stepped in with a creative, nationwide strategy.
York, Maine, is a postcard-perfect resort town on the state’s scenic Southern coast that has it all: miles of beaches with dramatic, rocky cliffs, an iconic lighthouse, an idyllic downtown brimming with charming restaurants, bars, and candy shops, and even an excellent hospital. However, it was missing a very important member of its small-town community: a urogynecologist to re-launch the hospital’s women’s health practice, which had been shuttered in 2023.
Demand for urogynecology has grown rapidly over the past ten years, at a rate that is expected to grow 35 percent between 2010 and 2030. At the same time, there is a shortage of gynecologists — The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates between 6,000 and 9,000, a number that is expected to reach 22,000 by 2050. In this climate, sourcing a strong urogynecologist is a tall order, especially in a rural setting like York. The hospital decided to return to us as a recruitment partner after several successful searches over the past six years.
Like the town where it was situated, the opportunity had its charms. It was a beautiful facility that matched York’s coastal aesthetic, located within an hour of Boston, with even closer proximity to Portsmouth, NH, known for its historic buildings, vibrant downtown, and cultural attractions. The hospital was a pillar of the community, with excellent leadership and an impeccable reputation. The gynecology practice was supported by two experienced nurse practitioners with years of institutional knowledge, and the department would be able to share the floor, equipment, and expertise with an established urology team. It was a unique opportunity for the right doctor to build a practice from the ground up, with plenty of autonomy and support.
Casting a Wide Net
The search was complex. The client sought an experienced provider who could work independently without requiring substantial mentorship. They needed someone who could confidently manage procedures on their own and who had a strong command of robotics.
Senior Search Consultant Kelsey Hirschman knew these factors would make this a challenging placement. She embarked on a three-pronged sourcing strategy: nationwide outreach to every program director and coordinator she could find, a localized e-campaign targeted to physicians in the Boston area, and tapping the two million verified active and passive candidates on Doximity to build a strong pool of candidates.
Leveraging her Doximity license to regularly exhaust her daily allotment of DocMails, Kelsey’s pitch landed with a physician who was actively looking for work in the Boston area. Dr. H was confident, had solid experience, and was as passionate as she was knowledgeable about the latest developments in urogynecology. Yet the client would require some convincing, as Dr. H was a recent graduate.
When Kelsey presented Dr. H’s outstanding education and robust case logs, the team agreed that she had more experience than her years of practice indicated. They were impressed and agreed that she was the kind of provider they had hoped for. They decided to bring her and her husband on-site to tour the facility and get a feel for the community.
Winter Magic in Maine
Maine is known for its tough winters, and the day of Dr. H’s site visit was no exception. It was December, and stormy, snowy weather was in the forecast. Fortunately, Dr. H was able to get ahead of the weather, but her husband was forced to stay behind.
The hospital’s practice manager was concerned that it would be tough to get Dr. H to commit without selling her husband on York, too. However, she was a lifelong member of the community and a New Englander, after all. A little snow was not going to deter her from winning Dr. H over enough for the both of them. She took her on a local’s tour of the picturesque town, which unfolded like a living snow globe from the cozy confines of her car, and spent the day introducing her to the hospital’s facilities, technology, and staff.
The highlight of Dr. H’s meetings with the leaders, colleagues, and sub-specialties she would be working with was a long conversation with the head urologist about the collaborative future vision for the practice they would build together. She was warming to the idea of working in York, despite the reading on the thermometer. The welcoming environment of the hospital, which had a friendly, family-first culture, and the special community it served melted away her reservations. By Spring, her future in York would bloom. Dr. H signed her contract in April.
Composing a Picture-Perfect Search
Cast a Wide Net with Strategic Focus: Don’t limit yourself to obvious candidates. Kelsey’s three-pronged approach — national outreach to program directors, localized campaigns, and tapping into comprehensive databases like Doximity — demonstrates the importance of exhausting all channels while maintaining targeted messaging.
Look Beyond Years of Experience: Sometimes the perfect candidate doesn’t fit the traditional mold. Dr. H. was a recent graduate, but her exceptional education and robust case logs told a different story. Focus on competency and potential rather than just tenure when evaluating candidates.
Create Collaborative Connections: The extended conversation between Dr. H and the head urologist about their shared vision was a turning point. Facilitate meaningful interactions between candidates and key team members who can paint a picture of future collaboration and growth.
Be Flexible with Timing and Circumstances: Weather, scheduling conflicts, and other obstacles are inevitable. The willingness to accommodate Dr. H.’s solo visit and the practice manager’s proactive approach to making it memorable despite the challenges show that adaptability and creativity can turn potential setbacks into opportunities to shine.
If you have a tough-to-fill position, the team at Jackson Physician Search has the national reach and industry expertise to accelerate your search. Reach out today to see for yourself why Jackson Physician Search boasts a 97% customer satisfaction score and 90% of clients award us multiple searches.
