The life of a recruiter is demanding. It doesn’t stop at 5 p.m.—it constantly requires you to be on the phone, traveling, checking emails, interviewing, touring, meeting with department chairs and hiring managers and so on. This often leaves little time for you to learn and grow professionally. Unfortunately, there is no standing still when it comes to learning—you’re either learning or being left behind.

I’m fortunate in that my position as Trainer and Education Coordinator allows me to spend a great deal of face-to-face time with physician recruiters from across the nation. Last year, when we were developing our new Recruiter Workshop curriculum for 2016, I brainstormed a list of hot topics I hear about often. One topic that came up at each and every workshop is the looming physician shortage and the impact that it will have not only on patients, but also on physician recruitment.