On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, Sr. Editor and host Daniel Williams is joined by Doug Lewis, Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Sentara Health and board member of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR).

This episode explores the continually adapting landscape of physician and provider recruitment — from shifting candidate expectations and family‑centered relocation decisions to compensation strategy, locum tenens pressure, and longer hiring timelines. Drawing on Doug’s frontline recruiting experience and national perspective through AAPPR, this conversation delivers practical insights for medical practice leaders navigating workforce shortages, competition for hard‑to‑recruit specialties, and the need for sustainable, long‑term talent strategies in 2026 and beyond.

Key Takeaways

[04:15] Recruitment decisions are now family decisions — not just physician decisions
Successful recruitment hinges on understanding the needs of spouses, partners, and children — including employment opportunities, schools, community culture, commute times, and lifestyle fit. Practices that ignore the family experience risk losing top candidates late in the process.
[08:58] Candidate priorities have shifted from compensation-first to lifestyle-first
While pay still matters, physicians increasingly prioritize work‑life balance, flexibility, and nontraditional practice models. Leaders must reassess whether their care models align with today’s expectations.
[10:58] Flexible work models like job sharing are growing — but complex to execute
Job sharing can attract candidates seeking flexibility, but it requires operational readiness, shared patient panels, and leadership buy‑in. Practices must plan carefully to ensure continuity of care and provider alignment.
[13:52] Hiring timelines are getting longer — and communication matters more than ever
Increased financial scrutiny, governance layers, and cultural fit assessments are slowing decisions. Recruiters and leaders must “keep candidates warm” through transparent timelines, frequent touchpoints, and a high‑touch experience.
[17:19] Compensation strategy must balance fairness, transparency, and sustainability
Compensation is both art and science. Sustainable models — combining base salary, RVUs, and outcome‑based incentives — help avoid destructive bidding wars while ensuring providers feel valued and fairly paid.
[19:15] Locum tenens use reflects deeper workforce challenges
Rising locums rates continue to outpace permanent compensation, especially in hard‑to‑recruit specialties. Leaders should treat locums as a short‑term bridge, not a long‑term solution, while investing in proactive workforce forecasting.
[21:04] Recruiter burnout is real — and leadership must address it
As recruitment demands intensify, organizations must support recruiters with standardized processes, training, realistic workloads, and responsible use of AI to reduce administrative burden.
[22:37] Strong recruiter–leader partnerships drive better workforce outcomes
The most successful organizations treat recruitment as a strategic partnership. Sharing data, trends, and market insights empowers leaders to make informed workforce decisions — not just react to vacancies.

Resources

Contact Doug on LinkedIn
Sentara Health
Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR)
MGMA Physician Hiring Playbooks - Member-exclusive, downloadable playbooks provide actionable insights, proven strategies, and step-by-step guidance for practice leaders.

This episode is brought to you by Greenway Health.

Healthcare practices today need more than incremental improvements — they need a smarter, more connected way to work. That’s why Greenway created Novare — the first natively AI-enabled platform designed to reinvent the legacy EHR.

Built with AI at its core, Novare helps unify clinical, financial, and patient engagement workflows — reducing administrative burden and helping providers focus more time on patient care. From ambient documentation to intelligent agents, Novare brings purposeful automation to the entire ambulatory workflow.

To learn more about Greenway Health and Novare, visit greenwayhealth.com.

Recruiting Physicians in 2026: Doug Lewis on Changing Expectations and Workforce Strategy