Inside the retention gap: What really keeps physicians loyal to their organizations

At the 2025 MGMA Leaders Conference in Orlando, Helen Falkner, regional vice president of recruiting and partner at Jackson Physician Search, shared why the factors that keep physicians engaged go far beyond compensation.

“Physicians, like everybody else, want to be valued, respected, feel supported by their administration, and they want to work in an environment where the culture aligns with their values,” Falkner says. “Those intangible pieces of a practice are just as important as the tangible things like compensation.”

She adds that creating structured opportunities for physicians to be heard is critical. “Whether that’s a structured mentorship program or a peer buddy program, ensure that they feel like they have a platform to speak up,” Falkner says. “Being open as administrators to receive that feedback — and act on that feedback — you will see dividends from investing in that type of communication.”