The path to prominence in healthcare education is as diverse as the challenges and opportunities that the industry presents today. The recent CPD Forty Under 40 awards, which debuted and were distributed at the Alliance 2024 Annual Conference, have shone a light on some of the most promising young leaders in the field. Among them, Katie Robinson, Ph.D., CHCP; Katie Lucero, MS, Ph.D.; and Andrea Funk, CHCP, offer perspectives on their journeys, advice for newcomers to the field and more.

Congratulations on being selected as one of the CPD Forty Under 40 recipients! Can you tell us about the journey that led you to where you are today in your career in healthcare education?

Katie Robinson, Ph.D., CHCP (KR): I love science and medicine — talking about it, thinking about it and writing about it. However, I hated actually doing science and also hate blood, so research science and practicing medicine were out. After dabbling in several other parts of medical education, I was led to CME, where I've been here for eight years. I've clearly found my home.

Katie Lucero, MS, Ph.D. (KL): My journey started with getting my Ph.D. in human development. I specialized in research and evaluation in healthy youth development. I then worked at the CDC, evaluating the Prevention Research Centers’ large cooperative agreement program. This program funded schools of medicine and public health to conduct community-based participatory research on chronic diseases. That was my first exposure to large-scale healthcare education.

I then worked as a director at a contractor research organization specializing in supporting health economics outcomes research and quality improvement. There, I oversaw a team of nurses and researchers who abstracted and analyzed data from medical charts. Finally, before coming to Medscape, I worked at a nonprofit as a primary investigator and lead evaluator on government contracts and grants supporting student achievement and teacher professional development. I wrote several successfully funded large-scale government proposals. I now apply all those skills to my career at Medscape.

Andrea Funk, CHCP (AF): As I'm sure is common for many in this industry, I just kind of fell into it. I saw a job opportunity on LinkedIn and applied. Once hired, I worked my way up the ranks, learning as much as I could about everything.

In your opinion, what are some of the most pressing challenges or opportunities facing healthcare education today, particularly for younger professionals like yourself?

KR: This isn't specific to healthcare education, but I think it's that people in general are inundated with information. As healthcare educators, we need to help clinicians identify the most important topics that can positively impact their practice and deliver it to them in a meaningful and tangible way.

KL: Some of the most pressing challenges are an evolving landscape which really requires more scientific and data skills than ever before. Where outcomes were once an afterthought, they are now at the center of healthcare education. It is imperative we evaluate our approaches and identify what was successful and why, and what did not work and why, then apply those learnings to future work. Technology is quickly evolving, so we need to be prepared to leverage technologies to improve learning experiences and inefficiencies in our own day-to-day work.

AF: Persistent challenges will consistently center on the development and distribution of education. Elements such as budgetary constraints, faculty availability, compliance issues and educational promotion pose recurring challenges with no easy resolutions in sight. However, there are opportunities to seize, such as harnessing the potential of microlearning and social media platforms. Given the widespread ownership of smartphones, leveraging tools like social media and educational apps presents an excellent avenue for effectively disseminating education.

As a young leader in healthcare education, what advice would you give to other aspiring professionals who are just starting out in this field?

KR: This industry is unique. No one grows up with the goal of being a healthcare educator. It falls into your lap based on your own interests and skillsets. Thrive on that. Ask questions. Your knowledge and skillsets are unique and can be valuable to an industry full of people with different knowledge and skills. Let's learn from each other.

KL: Get to know all stakeholders in our field. Understand what each contributes and what their values are. Collaborate with others and connect in meaningful ways to both broaden and deepen perspectives and skills.

AF: Have patience with yourself. There is a lot to learn and a lot of moving parts.

Lastly, how do you plan to leverage this recognition as a CPD Forty Under 40 recipient to further your career goals and make a positive impact in healthcare education?

KR: A month shy of 40, I really hope I can empower younger professionals to stay in this industry. Educating healthcare professionals to ensure they deliver the latest evidence-based care? In a world where people are living longer than ever before, what can be more important than that?

KL: This recognition has connected me with others in our field. I will leverage those connections to collaborate and open opportunities for others.