What Staff Do You Need? | S7 Ep36

The strongest practices aren't built by hiring more people—they're built by hiring the right people. Every successful practice starts with a team that supports your vision, complements your strengths, and grows alongside your business. From your first hire to a fully developed staff, thoughtful hiring decisions lay the foundation for efficient operations, exceptional patient experiences, and long-term success. Dr. Ash Patel is joined by Joanne Denison, President of the American Society of Plastic Surgery Professionals (ASPSP), to discuss how private practices can build an effective team from the ground up. Drawing on decades of experience as a practice administrator, Joanne shares practical guidance on identifying essential roles, hiring for personality and character, recognizing hidden potential, developing future leaders, and creating systems that help both employees and practices thrive. Topics Discussed Essential staffing roles for a new private practice Hiring for personality, character, and cultural fit Leadership and the role of the practice administrator When to outsource versus manage responsibilities in-house Creating checks and balances for financial oversight Developing employee handbooks and workplace policies Managing and motivating younger employees Identifying hidden talents within your team Using staff meetings to improve communication and professional growth The value of networking and continuing education for practice staff Key Takeaways Hire for character and teach the skills. Personality, attitude, and cultural fit are often stronger predictors of long-term success than technical experience alone. Every hire should support your practice's long-term goals. Building the right team starts with identifying the essential roles your practice needs today while remaining flexible as it grows. Strong systems create stronger practices. Employee handbooks, financial safeguards, regular communication, and clearly defined expectations help practices operate more effectively and reduce unnecessary risk. Invest in your team's professional development. Conferences, networking opportunities, and continuing education help staff stay current, solve problems more effectively, and bring new ideas back to the practice. Great leaders recognize potential. Regular conversations with employees can uncover strengths that lead to new responsibilities, career growth, and meaningful contributions beyond a person's original role. Bonus Resources ASPS EdNet About Enhance Your Practice Enhance Your Practice is the official practice management podcast from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), featuring conversations with leaders in plastic surgery on practice management, leadership, innovation, and professional development. Each episode delivers practical insights to help plastic surgeons build successful practices and thrive throughout their careers. Explore more educational resources from ASPS at plasticsurgery.org.