Background

A leading tertiary pathology laboratory in Auckland, New Zealand, faced a critical shortage of anatomical pathologists. This shortage posed significant challenges in maintaining timely diagnostics and meeting patient care demands. Despite extensive local recruitment efforts, finding qualified specialists willing to relocate to Auckland proved difficult due to a limited talent pool and the high demand for pathologists globally.

The Challenge

• Specialist Shortage: The lab required an experienced anatomical pathologist with a proven track record in advanced diagnostics and the ability to meet the demands of working in a busy tertiary hospital laboratory handling complex referrals from other hospitals within New Zealand and internationally.
• Global Competition: The demand for anatomical pathologists worldwide made securing top talent particularly competitive.
• Relocation Barriers: Candidates from abroad often faced challenges related to professional licensing, visa processes, and relocation logistics.
• Medical Professional Registration: the successful pathologist candidate must be eligible for provisional vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand. This is a lengthy process of assessment of experience and qualifications taking 3-6 months.

The Solution

The organisation partnered with Odyssey Recruitment, a specialised medical recruitment agency experienced in international medical recruitment. The agency employed a targeted approach to identify qualified candidates worldwide, focusing on professionals with strong academic and clinical credentials, flexibility to relocate, and experience working in high-pressure environments.

Through this effort, our recruiters identified a highly qualified anatomical pathologist from Israel, whose expertise aligned perfectly with the lab’s needs.

The Recruitment Process

1. Candidate Assessment: The pathologist’s extensive experience in anatomical pathology, academic contributions, and adaptability made him an ideal fit. Israel is ranked as a country with a comparable healthcare system to that of New Zealand by the Medical Council of New Zealand and the pathologist was keen to seek new career opportunities and a safe existence for his family, far from military conflict.
2. Licensing Support: Our recruiters facilitated the candidate’s registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ), ensuring a seamless transition to practice in New Zealand. This included assistance with the preparation of documents for submission and advice about the interview with the Royal Australian College of Pathologists.
3. Relocation Assistance: Comprehensive support was provided for visa applications, housing arrangements, car rental, international travel and shipping of goods and finally settling into Auckland, helping the candidate and his family transition smoothly to their new home.
4. Onboarding and Integration: The laboratory implemented a structured onboarding process, enabling the pathologist to adapt quickly and contribute effectively to the team.

The Outcome

The successful recruitment of the Israeli anatomical pathologist brought immediate and long-term benefits:

• Enhanced Capacity: With an additional experienced and competent pathologist, the laboratory significantly reduced turnaround times for pathology reports, improving patient outcomes.
• Team Strengthening: The new hire introduced fresh perspectives and capabilities to the pathology team. He found opportunities to enhance his skills in new fields in Auckland and is expected to expand the laboratory capabilities.
• Sustained Growth: The success reinforced the laboratory’s confidence in leveraging international talent to address staffing challenges.

Key Takeaways

This case underscores the importance of proactive and strategic recruitment in addressing critical staffing shortages. By embracing digital recruitment technologies, professional networks and international talent followed up with the provision of comprehensive support, healthcare organisations can bridge staffing gaps, enhance service quality, and achieve sustainable growth.

For this Auckland pathology laboratory, the recruitment of an anatomical pathologist from Israel exemplifies the transformative impact of strategic global recruitment.