The International Hospital Federation (IHF) is partnering with US healthcare leader Kaiser Permanente to expand its Young Executive Leaders programme, which builds global leadership learning, networking, and information exchange among emerging executives in the healthcare sector. The IHF launched its Young Executive Leaders programme in 2019 as a way to build competencies, increase capacity, and foster exchange among young hospital executives across the globe, and to create a voice for the next generation of international healthcare leaders. In the last 4 years, more than 135 new leaders from 36 countries have participated in the Young Executive Leaders programme.
Beginning with the 2024 cohort, Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest integrated managed care organizations in the United States, is entering into a three-year sponsorship to support the Young Executive Leader programme. As part of its sponsorship, two qualified candidates from Kaiser Permanente will participate in the programme each year.
Ronald Lavater, CEO of the IHF, expressed the importance and reach of the programme:
One of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health plans, serving 12.6 million members, with 40 hospitals, more than 600 medical offices, 215,000 employees, and nearly 24,000 physicians, Kaiser Permanente has joined to support the IHF and its goal to improve health outcomes around the world.
Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, is president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals of Northern California, and Past Chair of the American College of Healthcare Executives (2021–2022). Reflecting on this joint commitment to develop the healthcare sector’s future leaders, she stated:
Michelle Gaskill-Hames, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Hawaii, Health Plan and Hospital, recognizes the mutual benefits for Kaiser Permanente and the Young Executive Leaders programme:
About the Young Executive Leaders programme
Around 40 young health care leaders are selected each year to participate in the Young Executive Leaders programme. In 2023, applications were received from 220 young executives in 35 countries and territories.
The curriculum engages selected participants in masterclasses covering the themes, challenges, and opportunities faced by healthcare leaders worldwide. Group projects are a core component, requiring collaboration with international peers to compete a publication about a trending topic or future concern for executives in the healthcare sector. The capstone experience is a full-day workshop, in person, at the IHF’s annual World Hospital Congress. In 2024, the Congress takes place from 10 to 12 September in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Upon graduation, each cohort joins the Alumni network, which provides a forum for lifelong learning, exchange, and networking with peers from the programme.
The call for applications for the Young Executive Leaders 2024 programme was launched in early December. Visit https://ihf-fih.org/what-we-do/young-executive-leaders/ for full details of the process and selection criteria.
Source: IHF
