With physician shortages expected to persist into 2026, GI Partners of Illinois is betting on AI, practice acquisitions and expanded advanced practice provider clinics to keep pace with demand.
COO Dr. Geogy Vennikandam joined Becker’s to discuss how the Chicago-based group is working to boost physician productivity and attract younger clinicians through a tech-forward culture
Editor’s note: This interview was edited lightly for clarity and length.
Question: How do you see physician shortages changing in the next year? What’s your current strategy for addressing those shortages?
Dr. Geogy Vennikandam: This is something everybody’s experiencing. We don’t expect physician shortages to improve in 2026; if anything, the pipeline suggests continued tightening, with demand outpacing fellowship output.
Our strategy at GI Partners is multifaceted. One is to create leverage for physicians through AI augmentation. Two is to build a differentiated employer value proposition — autonomy, equity opportunities, ASC alignment and best-in-class support infrastructure — so that serves as a draw for top talent.
Three is to grow strategically through acquisitions. We’re actively onboarding new physician partners from practices aligned with our culture and expectations. And then we’re developing an integrated advanced practice provider strategy. We’re expanding APP-led clinics for IBS, GERD, nutrition and CCM, allowing physicians to focus on complex and interventional GI.
The last thing is investing in workforce stability. We’ve reinforced leadership, restructured underperforming locations, strengthened onboarding and improved mentorship to reduce turnover. Our new HR team has been fantastic.
So our philosophy is simple: solve shortages by making every physician meaningfully more productive. I don’t see incremental improvement in shortages in the near term, unfortunately — but I hope that changes.
Q: Have you found the best strategies for recruiting younger physicians?
GV: Younger physicians love forward-thinking organizations. I was talking to med students recently, and when they see an organization that isn’t stuck in the era of Excel spreadsheets for billing like we once were, they appreciate that. The newer generations are tech-centric and tech-forward.
I never took coding classes, but these kids come out knowing a lot. You brought up ChatGPT — they’re using Perplexity, Claude, Gemini, the list goes on. It takes me a while to keep up, so it’s impressive.
We tell them, “Our pill cams are robotic and advanced. Our virtual call centers aren’t actual people — they’re led by Simbie. We have Tandem, Bookend, Sylvan, all these AI tools at your disposal if you join us.” That lowers overhead, makes you more efficient, and patients love that we’re at the forefront of cutting-edge technology. Everybody likes shiny toys, right? We have it all.
And the independence piece matters too. I’m not a micromanager. Leaders who micromanage are the worst because it shows you don’t trust your team. When we convey the culture we’re building and the teammates you’ll be surrounded by, that’s a big reason to join GI Partners of Illinois.
