How to Actually Hire an Associate OD (When Nothing Else Is Working)

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How to Actually Hire an Associate OD (When Nothing Else Is Working)

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Finding and hiring an associate OD has become one of the most frustrating challenges in independent practice — and most owners have no idea why their approach isn't working.

In this episode, Dr. Steve Vargo digs into the reality behind the associate shortage: the problem isn't only that there aren't enough doctors. In many cases, the way practices recruit, communicate, and present themselves is quietly disqualifying them before a candidate ever picks up the phone.

Why are qualified ODs going silent after interviews? Why do job postings sit untouched for months? And what does nearly $200,000 in student debt have to do with the way a young doctor reads your job ad?

Drawing on recent research into what today's ODs actually want from employers, Steve unpacks the psychology behind how this generation evaluates opportunities — and why transparency, structure, and specificity matter far more than prestige or promises of "someday."