Modern Healthcare Recognizes Kirby Partners for Third Consecutive Year

For 37 years, Kirby Partners has helped organizations hire for impact by connecting them with leaders who can make a meaningful difference. 

That work was recognized again this year as Modern Healthcare named Kirby Partners to its list of Largest Executive Search Firms for the third time. The annual ranking recognizes executive search firms based on senior-level healthcare executive placements made in the United States during the previous year. 

Kirby Partners works with health systems, academic medical centers, consulting firms, and technology organizations to recruit senior leaders in healthcare, technology, cybersecurity, clinical informatics, digital transformation, and AI. Our work includes searches for CIOs, CISOs, CMIOs, CAIOs, CDIOs, CTOs, and other executives whose leadership shapes how organizations serve patients, clinicians, and communities. 

“We’ve been fortunate to help organizations navigate some of their most important leadership decisions,” said Judy Kirby, CEO of Kirby Partners. “This recognition reflects the many organizations and leaders we’ve had the opportunity to serve, but what means the most to us is the trust our clients and candidates place in us and the relationships we’ve built along the way.” 

Kirby Partners’ work is grounded in relationships, experience, and results. We serve as an extension of our clients’ teams, taking time to understand each organization, the leadership opportunity, and the qualities a candidate will need to thrive. That relationship-driven approach has produced long-term results, including a 97% candidate offer acceptance rate, 98% client satisfaction, and an eight-year average tenure among placed executives. 

In addition to permanent executive search, Kirby Partners provides interim executive leadership for organizations facing vacancies, transitions, or urgent leadership needs. These experienced leaders help clients maintain stability, move critical initiatives forward, and give organizations time to make a thoughtful, longer-term hire. 

As a specialized boutique firm, Kirby Partners combines deep healthcare technology expertise with broad candidate access. With fewer off-limits restrictions than many larger search firms, a strong national network, and senior-level involvement throughout the search process, we help clients identify leaders who are both highly qualified and aligned with the organization’s culture, strategy, and future needs. 

“Our clients are hiring leaders for roles that shape the future of healthcare, technology, cybersecurity, and AI,” said Bryan Kirby, Vice President of Kirby Partners. “Those searches require judgment, relationships, persistence, and a real understanding of what makes someone successful in a specific organization. That’s where our team adds true value.” 

Kirby Partners remains focused on helping clients make leadership decisions that are thoughtful, well-informed, and built for long-term impact. 

About Modern Healthcare’s Ranking

Modern Healthcare’s 2026 Largest Executive Search Firms list is based on senior-level healthcare executive placements made in the United States during 2025. The ranking includes information on participating firms’ placements, revenue, recruiting staff, and scope of services.