Hospital and health system CEOs’ workforce priorities are evolving amid changing generational expectations and a growing sense of urgency.
In 2025, hospital and health system CEOs are doubling down on employee engagement and retention.
For Andres Duran, CEO of Dimmit Regional Hospital in Carrizo Springs, Texas, the focus in recent years was on hiring top talent to fill critical roles.
“In 2025, however, our priorities have shifted toward employee satisfaction and retention,” Mr. Duran told Becker’s. “We are investing more deeply in our existing staff, whether through professional development, recognition, or workplace culture, because keeping our team engaged and fulfilled has become just as important as bringing in new talent.”
The shift is driven by the evolving expectations of today’s workforce. Current staff members value flexibility, work-life balance, growth opportunities and recognition differently than previous generations, he said.
“This shift has created both pressures and opportunities: pressures in that we must adapt to meet new priorities, and opportunities in that those investments in satisfaction and development build stronger long-term retention and loyalty,” Mr. Duran said.
John Ayoub, CEO of Mobridge (S.D.) Regional Hospital and Clinics, told Becker’s his organization’s 2025 workforce priorities continue to center on creating and sustaining a culture in which caregivers feel valued, supported and equipped to deliver high-quality care.
“What has evolved is the heightened urgency,” Mr. Ayoub said. “Competition for top talent continues to intensify, and skilled caregivers now have more leverage than ever in determining where they choose to work.”
This pressure reinforces the importance of investing in workplace culture, he said.
“We are working to ensure that our team members experience respect, collaboration, and opportunity for growth every day,” Mr. Ayoub said. “By doing so, we strengthen both recruitment and retention, which directly translates into the caliber of care our patients and community receive.”
Workforce engagement is also a top priority for CEOs during times of transformation or growth. Since launching a plan to add 10 neighborhood clinics over five years, Fairfield, Calif.-based NorthBay Health has added nearly 45 new primary care physicians and advanced practice providers. President and CEO Mark Behl told Becker’s in August that he is focused on transparency on key metrics — including employee engagement — and offering flexibility with remote work.
Mitchell Rosner, MD, the new CEO of Charlottesville, Va.-based UVA Health, told Becker’s that when he first took the helm on an interim basis in February, meeting with faculty, physicians and front-line staff to address their concerns was a key priority.
“I had several one-on-one meetings, and worked to change some cultural elements to improve engagement around the issues staff and faculty had concerns about,” Dr. Rosner said.
