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Ophthalmologist recruiting, by people who have filled surgical schedules. Nationwide.

Denali Recruiting places comprehensive and subspecialty ophthalmologists with private practices, groups and surgery centers. Retained searches, AI-targeted sourcing, and a recruiter who has worked inside ophthalmology since 2002 screening every candidate.

I'm hiring an ophthalmologist I'm an ophthalmologist
  • Cataract, refractive, retina, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastics, comprehensive
  • Associate, partner-track and buy-in positions
  • Confidential for candidates. No fee to candidates.
Ophthalmologist and practice administrator reviewing the surgical schedule beside a slit lamp
Surgical volume, case mix, partnership terms.Scoped before anyone is contacted

Subspecialties we recruit

Every ophthalmology subspecialty, and the questions each one raises.

A retina search and a refractive search are different jobs. The scoping call covers what matters for the specific subspecialty before the search profile is built.

Cataract & comprehensive

Monthly cataract volume, premium IOL and femto adoption, ASC ownership or block time, clinic-to-OR ratio, optometric co-management network.

Cornea & refractive

LASIK, SMILE, ICL and PRK volume, laser platform, refractive coordinator support, marketing budget behind the refractive line, corneal transplant expectations.

Retina

Medical vs. surgical mix, injection volume, imaging and OCT setup, referral base, call coverage and hospital privileges, research or clinical trial involvement.

Glaucoma

MIGS and traditional surgical volume, laser and diagnostic equipment, how cataract-glaucoma cases are shared, clinic pace and tech support.

Oculoplastics

Functional vs. cosmetic mix, OR access, aesthetic service line and marketing, referral patterns from the group and outside practices.

Pediatrics, neuro-ophthalmology & uveitis

Referral volume, hospital and academic affiliations, strabismus surgical expectations, how the practice supports a lower-volume subspecialty.

For practices

What a physician search covers before the first candidate is contacted.

Physician searches at Denali are retained: 50% of the fee initiates the search, 50% is due when a candidate accepts, with a six-month replacement guarantee. The first job is getting the opening right.

  1. The role, honestly describedSubspecialty, expected clinic and surgical volume at year one and year three, call, satellite coverage, and why the position is open.
  2. Compensation and the pathBase, production formula, premium lens and ASC participation, signing and relocation, partnership timeline and buy-in terms. Vague partnership language loses candidates.
  3. The practice as a candidate sees itLanes and techs per surgeon, EHR, referral base, marketing support, who the surgeon reports to, and the culture of the surgeon group.
  4. The search profileAll of the above becomes the profile that drives AI-targeted sourcing: fellowship and training data, licensing records, publications and conference faculty, Denali's candidate database, and targeted outreach to physicians who are not looking on job boards.
  5. Recruiter screeningA recorded video interview with the recruiter on Zoom or Google Meet, license verification, references and background check. No phone screens. You see only the top candidates, each with interview highlight clips and a plain written summary.
  6. Interviews through signingSite visit coordination, offer structure, contract negotiation support and a check-in after the start date.

For ophthalmologists

What you get that a job posting cannot tell you.

Confidential, and never a fee. Your name goes to a practice only after you approve that specific introduction, and your current group is never contacted.

The real surgical volumeWhat the departing or retiring surgeon actually did last year, what is realistic for you in year one, and what the referral base supports.
How compensation really worksProduction formulas, premium lens and ASC participation, how partners are paid, and how the offer compares to the market for your subspecialty and region.
Partnership, in writingTimeline, buy-in valuation method, what is included (ASC, real estate, optical), and what the current partners say about it.
The practice from the insideDenali Creative builds the websites, campaigns and staff training for ophthalmology practices. We have seen how many of these clinics run.
Fellows and residents welcomePractices hiring their next associate often want to meet fellows a year or more out. Start the conversation on your timeline.
Contract helpWe walk through non-competes, tail coverage, production terms and partnership language with you, and tell you when to bring in an attorney.
Send your CV confidentially

From practice owners

Surgeons who have hired through Denali.

Denali Recruiting helped our practice find the most outstanding and experienced doctors and practice administrator. I would highly recommend them to anyone searching for a new recruiting firm.
Dr. Robert GladsdenNew Vision Laser Center
Paul and his team helped my practice with crucial interviews of fellows and associates throughout the years. His experience is an incredible asset to any practice.
Theodore Perl, MDCorneal Associates of New Jersey
Paul Stubenbordt not only helped me find the right candidates, but his team at Denali Creative helped train them to their fullest potential.
Paul Cutarelli, MDCutarelli Vision

Ophthalmologist recruiting questions

Timing, fees, fellows, partnership and confidentiality.

If your question is not here, call (682) 831-0900 and ask.

How long does it take to recruit an ophthalmologist?
Commonly several months to a year from scoping call to start date, depending on subspecialty, location and compensation. Fellowship-trained subspecialists in smaller markets take longest. Practices hiring a fellow finishing next summer should start the search now. A realistic timeline is set on the scoping call.
What does an ophthalmologist search cost?
Physician searches are retained. The fee is a percentage of first-year compensation, confirmed in the search agreement: 50% initiates the search and 50% is due when a candidate accepts. If the hire is terminated within six months, Denali replaces the candidate at no additional fee. Candidates never pay.
Do you recruit fellows and residents?
Yes. Many associate searches are filled by fellows a year or more before they finish training. For candidates, reaching out early means the conversation runs on your timeline. For practices, it means starting the search well ahead of the start date you need.
Can you run a confidential search for a replacement or a retiring partner?
Yes. The practice is not named in outreach until a candidate is a finalist, and the search profile is written so the practice cannot be identified by its details.
How do you find ophthalmologists who are not on job boards?
The search profile is matched against public professional data (fellowship and training records, licensing, publications, conference faculty), Denali's own candidate database, and targeted search, social and video audiences by subspecialty and market. AI does the finding and the first outreach; the recruiter reviews every match and makes every call.
Will you help with the contract and partnership terms?
Yes, for both sides. Practices get help structuring an offer that will land. Candidates get a walk-through of production terms, non-competes, tail coverage and partnership language, and a clear word on when to bring in an attorney.
Do you work with private equity backed groups and academic departments?
Yes. Private practices and surgeon-owned groups are the majority of Denali's work, and the same search process applies to PE-backed platforms and academic or hospital-affiliated departments. The scoping call covers the ownership structure so candidates hear it plainly.

Other roles

Also recruiting for the rest of the practice.

Optometrists associate OD · co-management · dry eyeAdministrators & managers administrator · clinic manager · growth managerOphthalmic technicians COA · COT · COMT · scribesSurgical & refractive coordinators LASIK · premium IOL · patient counselor

Start here

Hiring an ophthalmologist, or looking for your next practice?

Practices get a scoping call. Ophthalmologists get a confidential conversation. Either way you hear back from the recruiter.

(682) 831-0900Monday to Friday, Central time
Book a call on the calendarPick a time that works. Opens Paul's HubSpot calendar.
Trophy Club, TexasSearches run nationwide
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