In part 1 of this series, we explored the paths that led a group of young leaders to be recognized in the recent CPD Forty Under 40 awards at the Alliance 2024 Annual Conference. In part 2, we are turning the spotlight on awardees Jess Henry, Amanda Jamrogiewicz and Rokeena Williams. They share their journeys within healthcare education, offering perspectives on their experiences, 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?
Jess Henry (JH): When I first started in healthcare, I didn’t have an interest in it. I only wanted to move to a big city from my small town. But then I found that I really liked it, and I’ve continued to elevate throughout my organization — from a bedside staff person to now a consultant for continuing medical education — by making connections, networking and pushing my limits to try new and interesting things to expand my horizons.
Amanda Jamrogiewicz (AJ): From 2012 to 2016, I worked at an accreditation organization focused solely on joint providership. I began my CPD journey managing projects, supervising the programs team and overseeing the accreditation process. In 2014, I was promoted to vice president of strategy to work with our education partners to innovate and optimize their CME activities. I was recruited to my next role in 2016, where I managed a medical education company that hosted an annual live meeting and was part of a group of medical education companies all providing programs in their respective therapeutic areas. As the general manager, this position provided me with myriad opportunities for growth and advancement, as I managed all aspects of the organization. In January 2024, I joined a progressive medical education company as senior director of education strategy to further advance my professional career in the medical education arena.
Rokeena Williams (RW): After earning a Bachelor of Science in tourism, convention and event management from Indiana University, I began my career as a meeting planner. In 2013, I transitioned to continuing medical education (CME) as an activity coordinator at the Indiana University School of Medicine, where I discovered a passion for lifelong learning and applied my meeting planning and project management skills to my role. I attended and co-presented at my first Alliance conference, which was the 40th annual conference, with mentor Kim Denny, focusing on learning strategies and partnerships with Riley Hospital for Children. I also helped establish the Midwest CME Providers Conference, fostering collaboration among professionals across several states and sharing CE practices. My career advanced as I became a program manager in 2015 and earned the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2018.
In 2019, I joined Stanford University School of Medicine as a special projects manager at the Center for Continuing Medical Education, where I led various projects and obtained the Certified Healthcare CPD Professional (CHCP) certification. By 2021, I was leading Stanford CME's online activities as the eLearning manager, helping drive substantial growth and increasing our educational delivery formats in online education. Over a decade later, I am still passionate about professional development. Recently, I was accepted as an ACCME site surveyor for 2024. I actively volunteer, serve on various boards and enjoy networking with our CE community.
In your opinion, what are some of the most pressing challenges or opportunities facing healthcare education today, particularly for younger professionals like yourself?
JH: Some of the challenges include wanting to move at a fast pace and try new things while others are more resistant to change and rely heavily on outdated learning styles, such as using only lectures in education.
AJ: One of the aspects of this field that I like the most is the everchanging landscape, which can present both challenges and opportunities. Based on the niche industry, I think one of the biggest challenges for younger professionals is the steep learning curve — there is so much to learn! However, I also believe that the burgeoning advances in technology may put younger professionals at an advantage for adoption and utility in the healthcare education space, which would certainly provide an opportunity for growth and advancement.
RW: There are significant opportunities to improve healthcare education, and I am particularly interested in two areas. First, integrating AI technology into our roles and education can lead to streamlined processes and enable educators to collaborate more effectively with subject matter experts, delivering up-to-date teaching on technological advancements in healthcare. Second, it is crucial to focus on social determinants of health in every aspect of our medical education. This involves examining all factors that influence a patient's health outcomes, such as their social and economic status, living conditions, access to healthcare and environmental factors. By addressing these factors in medical education, we can better equip healthcare professionals and the CE community to tackle the root causes of health inequalities and provide more effective and timely 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?
JH: If there is a chance that you can take on a new experience, a stretch assignment or even a new role that you may not necessarily be interested in, try it! You might surprise yourself.
AJ: Practice what you preach: continuing education. At heart, I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I believe that my passion for personal and professional education is what helps me advance my career. Also, make sure you’re in the right seat. There are so many different types of professionals who make CPD run — from clinicians and scientists to operations specialists and business developers. Ensuring you and your colleagues are in the right role will capitalize on everyone’s strengths and optimize your career path.
RW: My advice to aspiring professionals is to focus on building strong relationships with colleagues, faculty and mentors. If you don’t have a mentor, find one — or even two! These connections can provide support, guidance and opportunities for collaboration and advancement. Also, to become more involved in the CE community, it's important to take advantage of networking and volunteering opportunities. Staying curious and continuously learning throughout your career is crucial. Embrace professional development opportunities, stay updated on the latest research and trends, and develop skills in relationship-building and learning curiosity early in your career.
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?
JH: Receiving this award underscores my passion for continuing education and my commitment to excelling in this field. It also shows my commitment to learning and sharing that knowledge with peers and colleagues both near and far.
AJ: I sincerely appreciate the acknowledgement of my time and efforts in CPD. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Outliers,” he references the 10,000-hour rule, which surmises that it takes 10,000 hours of intensive practice to achieve mastery of complex skills and materials. Later on, however, Gladwell states that, “Success is not a random act. It arises out of a predictable and powerful set of circumstances and opportunities.” I consider my professional career in CPD as a beautiful blend of thousands of hours of practice coupled with incredible opportunities for advancement and success. With this acknowledgement, I would like to take advantage of my experience in the industry to continue to advance CPD and help others — personally and organizationally — be the best version of themselves and feel like we are making an impact.
RW: Being honored as a CPD Forty Under 40 recipient is not only a recognition of my past achievements but also a catalyst for my future growth, leadership and impact in healthcare education. I am excited to seize this opportunity and contribute to advancing the field in meaningful ways. As a recipient of this award, I understand the significance of mentorship and role modeling in supporting the next generation of CME leaders. I plan to serve as a mentor, sharing my experiences, providing guidance and helping others navigate their career paths.