In a recent MGMA Business Solutions Podcast, host Daniel Williams spoke with leaders from Jackson Physician Search (JPS) about physician leadership and recruitment challenges, using insights from a new research paper co-developed by JPS and MGMA. Tom Rossi, Dirk Jansson, and Mark Dotson of JPS shared findings on physician interest in leadership roles, the importance of early leadership training, and the challenges healthcare organizations face in recruiting and developing physician leaders.
The Importance of Early Leadership Development
A key theme of the research is the need to identify and develop future physician leaders early in their careers. According to Dirk Jansson, physicians’ interest in leadership roles is increasing, driven by their desire to have a greater impact on healthcare policy and community health. He noted that this shift is partly due to fewer physicians working in private practice and more joining large health systems, which provide more opportunities for leadership.
“The opportunity to affect change at a population level by policy, inequality, and operations efficiency is a gratifying concept to them,” Jansson explained. To meet this demand, healthcare organizations need to create clear paths for physicians to grow into leadership roles by offering leadership training early in their careers.
Leadership’s Role in Reducing Burnout
Physician burnout is a persistent issue in healthcare, and it’s not limited to those on the front lines. Physician leaders can play a critical role in addressing burnout for both themselves and their teams. Mark Dotson explained that many physicians see leadership roles as a way to address the challenges they and their colleagues face.
“Physicians want to be part of the decision-making process and help their colleagues,” Dotson said. To address burnout, organizations should equip their physician leaders with tools to improve team communication, support staff, and implement changes that reduce stress for healthcare providers.
Closing the Leadership Training Gap
The research highlighted a significant gap in physician leadership training. Tom Rossi pointed out that many physicians enter leadership roles without formal training in the soft skills necessary to lead effectively, such as communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.
“There’s so much clinical training that has to take place [in medical school] that there’s not enough time to talk about any of these topics,” Rossi said. To bridge this gap, organizations should offer leadership development programs that include mentorship and formal training in administrative and business skills. Rossi also recommended that physicians seek out external organizations, such as MGMA or the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), to gain exposure to leadership skills not typically taught in medical education.
Challenges in Recruiting Physician Leaders
The research also explored the difficulties organizations face when recruiting physician leaders. Many healthcare organizations prefer to hire internally, with about 66% of leadership roles filled by current staff. While this approach can be beneficial, it also limits the candidate pool, which may hinder the organization’s ability to find the best fit for the role.
Jansson suggested that organizations consider using external recruitment partners like JPS to expand their candidate pool. “The candidate you’re choosing from internal sources may represent a very small sub-segment of the overall available market,” he said. By broadening the search, organizations can find candidates who are better aligned with their leadership needs.
Timing Leadership Development
The research showed that the ideal time to start formal leadership training is after six to ten years of clinical experience. At that point, physicians have enough experience to focus on leadership skills while continuing their clinical work. This combination helps them develop a well-rounded understanding of both patient care and organizational leadership.
Jansson explained, “Once you get to that 10-year mark... you’re really able to speak more fluidly. Organizations should tailor their leadership programs to different stages of a physician’s career to ensure they are developing leaders at the right time.
Looking Ahead: Preparing for Healthcare’s Future
As healthcare evolves with new technologies and care models, physician leadership will become even more important. Leaders will need to navigate challenges like population health management, quality metrics, and financial accountability.
Rossi emphasized the need for physician leaders to gain business expertise. “Physicians are expected to have business expertise and be able to dialog about those types of things with CFOs and other leaders,” he said. Organizations must prepare their physician leaders for these demands by offering ongoing training in these areas.
Resources & Links:
- Learn more about Jackson Physician Search: Jackson Physician Search Website
- Research Paper discussed in the episode, available at the MGMA Leaders Conference and on the following link: Physician Leadership Research Study
- This episode's guests:
- Tom Rossi – Vice President of Executive Search
- Dirk Jansson – Director of Physician Executive Search
- Mark Dotson – Director of Physician Executive Search
MGMA Resources:
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