Dr. Jeffrey Kakish joined ZRG as Managing Director in 2023. He holds over a decade of expertise counseling healthcare clients in recruitment and healthcare consulting ventures. Dr. Kakish specializes in evaluating current business processes and implementing strategic partnerships to fulfill executive, academic, and clinical needs effectively and efficiently. Throughout his career, he has partnered with executive leaders of the largest health systems in the United States, including academic medical centers and community hospitals, national cancer institutions, pediatric hospitals, Scottish Rite hospitals, system medical groups, community health centers, nonprofits and payors, and telehealth organizations.
Dr. Kakish brings a distinct understanding of market trends in the healthcare workforce while offering proven equitable solutions. As Managing Director, he is responsible for driving overall growth through candidate and client development and counseling services. He offers his client partners a wide array of knowledge in executive coaching, recruitment and retention, program development, salary trends, and lean processes, with the ultimate goal of solving healthcare organizations’ biggest challenges.
Prior to joining ZRG, Dr. Kakish led operations across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southwest territories as a Regional Vice President for Academics, Cancer Centers and Pediatric Practices of Client Partnerships for Merritt Hawkins /AMN Leadership Solutions. In addition, he served as a Diversity Champion and Ethics Champion for their parent company, AMN Healthcare. Earlier, he gained experience in contingent firms as Vice President of Health Search at Tal Healthcare.
Dr. Kakish serves on the Board of Directors for the American College of Healthcare Trustees as Senior Vice President of Academics and Administration. He serves on many advisory boards as well, including Ithaca College Customer Experience for Executives. He was previously a lecturer within the Physician Executive MBA program at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Haslam College of Business.
Dr. Kakish earned his Executive MBA from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, Physician Executive MBA program. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Universidad Autonoma De Guadalajara School of Medicine, where he earned his diploma as a Medical Doctor.
Jeffrey enjoys sports and all outdoor activities. He is passionate in supporting local communities and mentoring youth programs. He dedicates his time to his wife and three young children.