Michelle Wimberly explains how practices are addressing the physician shortage

As the national physician shortage deepens, cardiology is feeling the strain. Things are especially grim when it comes to staffing in rural America. Recruitment challenges are growing and health systems are grappling with how to attract and retain cardiologists in remote locations. Michelle Wimberly, director of physician recruitment and retention at Cardiovascular Logistics (CVL), explained that the solution starts with building relationships and a committing to long-term engagement.

“We certainly are seeing a shortage of physicians around the country,” Wimberly said. “Medicine in general, we're seeing a shortage of physicians going into medicine as well as cardiology… so the competition is fierce.”

Wimberly brings more than 30 years of experience to her role, including a long tenure at the Cardiovascular Institute of the South. She says the traditional approach to recruitment—such as posting jobs online—is no longer enough.

“Posting an ad doesn't necessarily get you the right candidate,” she said. “We try things like building relationships ... by talking with program directors and coordinators at training programs who have direct link with those fellows coming out of training."