Recruiting doctors isn't just hard. It’s an art form. And if you’re feeling like the whole game is stacked against you, you’re not alone. From the outside, it can feel like every great GP is already taken. But what if recruitment wasn’t a panic response but a built-in strength of your practice?

In this episode, we dive deep with Claire Ponsford, Co-Founder and Director at Wavelength International, to get a front-row seat to what actually works in doctor recruitment (and what quietly drives them away). If you want to scale without scrambling for locums or bleeding staff through the back door, this one’s for you.

You’ll walk away knowing exactly what to shift in your approach to become a practice that attracts (and keeps) quality GPs.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• Strategies thriving clinics use to stand out and build a steady pipeline of candidates (02:17)
• How leading practices think beyond the contract and into culture fit (04:19)
• What factors tip the decision for most doctors when choosing a clinic, and how your practice can stand out, even in a tough location (09:28)
• Why great GPs stay 3+ years and why loyalty isn’t built with contracts, but culture (16:02)
• Tips on what to do between offer and arrival, and why the first 2 weeks matter more than you think (20:05)
• How to prep your clinic for international hires and build a smoother transition process (28:30)

Being seen, staying proactive, and building authentic relationships — that’s how clinics scale their team sustainably. Tune in and rethink your recruitment strategy through the lens of what truly works.

Listen now to make recruitment your superpower, not your sore spot.

If you haven’t listened to our previous episode talking about The $750K Misdiagnosis That’s Quietly Killing Your Practice Dream, go back and check out Episode 58.

ABOUT CLAIRE PONSFORD

Claire is co-founder and owner of Wavelength International. With a proud 25-year history, Wavelength has one of the largest and longest-standing medical recruitment teams in Australia, offering both permanent and locum recruitment services in all specialties and seniorities. Claire is also a shareholder and Board Director in an Australian telehealth business.

With a background in Health Sector Human Resources management and medical workforce planning in both the UK and Australia, Claire is passionate about sourcing, attracting, onboarding and retaining talent. Having grown Wavelength from two to 100 staff, she also has first-hand experience of some of the challenges of hiring for growth and the benefits of choosing the right people to join your team.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-ponsford/
• Website: https://wave.com.au/

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general Practice Owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

A lot of Practice Owners think their biggest hurdle is hiring a GP. But what if that’s just the surface symptom of a much deeper business issue?

In this episode, Sachin and Todd dismantle the myth of the “quick fix GP” and reveal what’s really going on when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, and out of options.

This conversation doesn’t just call out the problem. It gives you a smarter way to think, act, and move forward. If you’re serious about scaling, this is a must-listen.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• How chasing a single hire masks more serious business issues, and how this mindset can stall growth, erode profit, and delay your goals (00:01)
• How to spot blind spots in your culture and retention before they cost you (07:21)
• Differences between outsourcing, hiring, or building the knowledge yourself, and what each approach actually requires if you want real results (11:29)
• The art of asking better questions to unlock better decisions (24:00)
• How to identify root causes and create business systems that scale (29:32)
• A practical framework to stop spinning your wheels, shrink your workload, and create focused time for strategic growth (36:35)

You can’t solve a problem you won’t acknowledge. This episode offers the clarity, confidence, and call to action you need to finally get unstuck.

Whether you’re one hire away or many, it’s time to stop waiting and start building the kind of business that earns back your time, profit, and peace of mind.

Listen now. Your future clinic, and future self, will thank you.

If you haven’t listened to our previous episode talking about Burnout, Betrayal, and the $1 Sale with Dr Nerida McDonald, go back and check out Episode 57.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general practice owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general Practice Owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

Running a clinic is rarely a straight line, and sometimes, your biggest wins are hiding inside your hardest decisions.

In this episode, Dr. Nerida McDonald shares how an accidental entry into ownership taught her the most brutal and brilliant lessons of business. From escaping a misaligned partnership to rebuilding from scratch (twice), she reveals what it really takes to evolve from a stressed-out solo owner to the proud architect of a thriving, future-proofed clinic.

Whether you're stuck in a clunky co-ownership model, juggling burnout, or thinking about scaling smart without losing your soul, this one’s got what you need to hear.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• Structural warning signs to look for before you commit to Practice Ownership (00:40)
• How to build a team where every doctor, manager, and receptionist rows in the same direction (17:46)
• Decision-making filters that matter when choosing a site (24:14)
• Why the same systems that got you “here” won’t get you “there” (32:07)
• How to evaluate risk, secure the right lease deal, and offset rising costs by activating underutilized revenue streams (43:16)
• Structuring your team so you’re not holding everything together (56:09)
• How to “retire” from low-leverage roles while holding on to the parts of the job that energize you (01:03:20)
• Leveraging awards as a tool for growth, visibility & reflection (01:05:28)
• The ownership mindset shift from survival to strategic scaling (01:11:00)

You’ll walk away with a clearer picture of how real practice transformation happens (and how to start your own).

If you haven’t listened to our previous episode talking about One Payroll Mistake Away From Disaster: The HR Trap That Could Sink Your Practice, go back and check out Episode 56.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general practice owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general Practice Owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

ABOUT DR NERIDA MCDONALD

GP, Founder and Owner of Walker Street Doctors, a ten-GP strong, award-winning, private general practice in the heart of North Sydney. Delivering excellence in Primary Healthcare to the patient base of North Sydney and beyond. Also a wannabe runner and vegetable gardener.

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/nerida.mcdonald.355

Website: https://www.walkerstreetdoctors.com.au/blogs/our-team/dr-nerida-mcdonald