Vice President
Paul Esselman is an accomplished talent advisor with more than 35 years of experience leading healthcare executive searches. He excels when helping boards and executive leadership teams expand their capabilities and create positive change inside their organizations and communities. Paul provides client consultation and search services focused on physician leaders and senior-level executives, including Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), Chief Innovation Officers (CIOs), and Chief Quality Officers (CQOs).
With a passion for succession planning and management, Paul has had the opportunity to work with leading healthcare organizations—hospitals and health systems, academic institutions, physician group practices, and managed care—to help them build high-performing teams, align their business and talent development strategies, and deepen bench strength.
Paul’s extensive knowledge of healthcare management, talent strategy, and leadership development allows him to understand the challenges of organizations and identify leaders who execute strategic goals and bring lasting success. Clients value Paul’s focus and attention to detail regarding all aspects of the search process and rely on his partnership and guidance as they develop their leadership teams.
Paul is a recognized public speaker and thought leader cited across several media publications, including Becker’s Hospital Review, Modern Healthcare, and Physician Leaders. In addition, Paul is an active member of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL) and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
Before joining Furst Group, Paul worked at Cejka Search for more than 15 years, his most recent position being President. Paul led teams in the Biotechnology industry earlier in his career, where he championed sales, marketing, and initiatives focused on operational efficiencies and transformation.
Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Physiology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.
