Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1499344
61 HEALTHCARE NEWS 61 What will health systems prioritize once Gen Z is running them? By Alexis Kayser G eneration Z is inheriting a troubled healthcare system: staffing short- ages, caregiver burnout, pandemic aershocks, financial woes. But these indus- try challenges are not scaring young people away from healthcare — they're motivating them to run toward it. Becker's asked 12 master's students enrolled in leading healthcare administration pro- grams why they chose to enter the field and what they will prioritize once they stand at hospitals' helms. eir answers revealed that healthcare is deeply personal to the rising generation, a sentiment that hasn't necessarily changed over the years, but has gained steam. Medi- cine has always been a connection-based field, driven by leaders who wish to make a difference. However, COVID-19 illustrated the necessity of strong health systems on an unprecedented level — inspiring young peo- ple to take action and right the wrongs they lived through in 2020. One of those wrongs is healthcare dispar- ity. Many students wish to improve racial equity and cultural competence within the healthcare system, having witnessed injus- tice themselves. Aspiring chief equity offi- cers would have been rare finds 20 years ago. at's not the case in 20-somethings nowa- days. Healthcare administration students referred to themselves as "change agents," expressing a desire to transform and innovate within the industry. ey want to push boundaries, from technological advancements, to im- proved care delivery models, to greater levels of cultural competence. Here's what else the rising generation told Becker's about where they aim to take the in- dustry — and why. 1. Kayla Quinn, 23. University of Michi- gan (Ann Arbor). Aspiring senior strat- egist: I chose to pursue a career in health- care administration due to the abundant cracks within the behavioral health sector that I witnessed as a caretaker and provider. I am continuously inspired by patients and their support system's ability to navigate the fragmented healthcare landscape. My class- mates also inspire me daily by their capac- ity for change while also being grounded in critical analysis and feasibility. Primary care doctors who understand the intersectional- ity of diagnoses and treat their patients as individuals inspire me to look at creating change even at a granular level. ese inspi- rations drive my primary goal in healthcare: to leverage emerging technologies to create a personalized patient experience that extends the continuity of care beyond hospital walls. 2. David Fuller Jr., 24. University of Michi- gan (Ann Arbor). Aspiring CEO: I chose healthcare administration for my career be- cause I want to improve the health status of historically underserved and marginalized communities in my hometown of metro De- troit. As the healthcare industry evolves and transforms the future of healthcare delivery, my generation will be the next servant lead- ers, change agents and disruptors of the status quo in the healthcare system. At a time when health equity is a focus for many healthcare organizations, much collaboration is needed across sectors to address health disparities and health inequities. I am committed to ad- vancing this work to provide innovative, eq- uitable, high-quality, patient-centered care for vulnerable populations. 3. Kate Libit, 20. Johns Hopkins Carey Business School (Baltimore). Aspir- ing nonprofit hospital CEO: e words "healthcare equity" and "healthcare equal- ity" are coming to the forefront more and more, but I believe that there is still work to be done within the healthcare industry. I was born in the Philippines, and last month (16 years aer coming to America), I became a U.S. citizen. I believe that being an immi- grant living in Baltimore is my inspiration behind my drive to ensure that the people in the most disenfranchised part of the city have the same access to healthcare as some- one who lives in Locust Point. I aspire to be a leader, a CEO of a nonprofit that is devoted to healthcare equity by increasing access to quality healthcare and reducing the impact of the social determinants of health. 4. Brian Britt, 25. Virginia Common- wealth University (Richmond). Aspiring vice president of network integration: I am driven by my want to reduce healthcare disparities and advocacy to address needs that go beyond biomedical issues to man- age all biopsychosocial factors to save and improve lives. e challenge to become a change agent impacting the health of soci- ety and the well-being of clinicians is why I chose healthcare administration. e pursuit of this goal amid the ever-changing political and financial environment makes the task all the more compelling. 5. Teffin Benedict, 24. Columbia Univer- sity (New York City). Aspiring COO: My interest in healthcare administration devel- oped during a comparative health systems study abroad program in London. Living in a country where everyone agreed that healthcare is a fundamental right opened my eyes to administration as a path to mak- ing an impact in healthcare. Within a year, we entered the pandemic and witnessed the consequences of limited investment in pub- lic health globally. e backdrop for the Gen Z coming-of-age story is full of widening disparities and inequality paired with incre- mental social progress, so entering the work- force inspires me to join the healthcare lead- ers working to fix the problems that impact our patients and staff and help accelerate the healthcare ecosystem to a more just and eq- uitable state. I am particularly interested in improving outcomes for vulnerable popu- lations, the digital transformation of health systems, and how our generation will help build a more age-friendly healthcare system. 6. Kaitlyn Apodaca, 25. George Washing- ton University (Washington, D.C.). Aspir- ing CEO: Healthcare administration is the intersection of what I am passionate about: the health of the whole person and shaping systems that treat individuals. My experienc- es as both a caregiver and a patient spurred my initial desire to bring my perspectives to the medical field. However, throughout my time at Boston College getting my de- gree in biochemistry, I realized that while I enjoy the science behind medicine, hands- on patient care was not a good fit. My un- dergraduate experience developed both my skill set and my understanding of analytics and systems thinking, while my experiences working in the corporate realm developed my operational, analytical, financial, and leadership skills. While discerning which profession I would pursue, these underlying principles guided my search. I want to make a positive impact, whether for an individual or a broader group, and I want to work for an organization that makes a difference in its community. In striving toward creating emotionally and physically safe spaces for all individu-