Recruit Smarter, Retain Longer: A Conversation with Jessica Minesinger on Building Belonging from Day One

In this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, Sr. Editor and Host Daniel Williams chats with Jessica Minesinger, founder and CEO of Surgical Compensation and Consulting, about some of the most pressing challenges facing medical practice leaders in 2026. From physician shortages and recruitment hurdles to compensation transparency and organizational culture, Jessica shares actionable strategies to help practices attract and retain top talent while fostering trust and engagement.

If you’re a medical practice leader looking to start the year strong, this conversation is packed with insights you can put into practice today.

Key Takeaways

• [02:19] Physician Shortage and Its Impact
  Why bridging the gap between physicians and employers is critical to addressing supply-and-demand challenges in healthcare.
• [07:07] Recruitment Roadblocks in 2026
  Common pitfalls in physician recruitment—such as over-reliance on guaranteed compensation—and how to avoid them.
• [12:39] Aligning Fit Beyond Compensation
  The importance of upfront conversations about work-life balance, leadership opportunities, and organizational culture to ensure long-term retention.
• [16:50] The Vulnerable Transition Period
  Why the shift from guaranteed salary to productivity-based models can lead to dissatisfaction—and how proactive planning can prevent it.
• [19:55] Communication is Culture
  How transparency and frequent dialogue about compensation strengthen trust and engagement within your organization.
• [21:50] Back to Basics: Common Sense in Compensation
  Engaging with the "Golden Rule"—administrators should think about whether they'd be comfortable with the compensation package offered.
• [23:43] MGMA Data Trends for 2026
  Insights from MGMA’s latest research: patient encounters are up, RVUs are stagnant—what this means for compensation strategies.

Resources

• Contact Jessica on LinkedIn
• Surgical Compensation and Consulting
• MGMA & Jackson Physician Search Research Report (2025)
• MGMA DataDive
• MGMA Conferences

This episode is sponsored by ModMed.
Every denied claim costs time and money to rework — for care you’ve already delivered. While payers sharpen their own AI tools, ModMed RCM Services pairs seasoned billing specialists with AI designed to help flag claims at risk before they go out the door, so your team can fix issues upfront instead of appealing after the fact. Learn more here.