Several weeks ago I was honored to be part of Modern Healthcare’s “Top 25 Minority Healthcare Executives” award gala in Chicago. I’m truly humbled to be part of such an amazing group of healthcare leaders. We often speak of the issues in the healthcare industry in the context of what is broken and needs to be fixed. But this event made me reflect on some of the outstanding leadership present in the industry, which only makes me feel very hopeful for the future of healthcare.

I want to congratulate the leaders on the Modern Healthcare list, and all the leaders in healthcare today, who are passionately serving the communities around them (many of them unsung heroes).  Healthcare needs strong and committed leaders as we move forward into a new era of reimbursement models, technology, and health reform.

I feel encouraged to know that by the time I’m in my seventies, perhaps suffering with multiple chronic illnesses, many of today’s leaders will have figured things out. I also look forward to being treated by my doctor via telehealth technologies from the comfort of my living room and being able to use a gaming system to do physical therapy on what will likely be a hip fracture.

And I look forward to using Twitter, Facebook, and whatever other social networking sites are out there to keep my grandkids updated on how I’m doing and to stay motivated to take good care of myself.

And yes, I do plan to do all of this from my smartphone.

The future of healthcare is in the hands of so many leaders across the industry and country.  These folks are using the spirit of innovation to foster the connectivity and communication that the industry and government envisioned. It can be a truly beautiful view if we continue to mirror the communities we serve, with physicians and healthcare leaders just as full of diversity in our cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities as those we care for.   Each individual on this list has had their own unique experiences, and they have had to take risks to make them the leaders they are today. I think some of the risks taken by many of the people on the Modern Healthcare list are what we need move the industry forward.

I would remind leaders in the industry to pay it forward.  Mentor rising stars around you. Challenge yourself to learn new things each day. And stay true to not just what’s possible today, but what needs to happen for tomorrow.

What qualities do you think will be important in the healthcare leaders of the future?