With all the focus on improving the effectiveness and quality of the U.S. healthcare system in the last few years, one simple fact often gets overlooked—all change in healthcare starts with the healthcare workforce, says the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA).

That presents healthcare human resources professionals with an important responsibility —to proactively and strategically lead this change. And requires that the best and the brightest enter the healthcare HR profession!

To support these emerging healthcare HR leaders, HealthcareSource®, provider of talent management software for the healthcare industry, has announced the winners of the third annual” HealthcareSource New-to-the-Profession ASHHRA Annual Conference Grants.” The grants enable the winners to attend the 2012 ASHHRA 48th Annual Conference & Exposition taking place this week (September 22-25, 2012) in Denver.

These grants provide financial assistance to healthcare HR practitioners who are new in their careers and wish to further their knowledge by attending the ASHHRA Conference. The grant fulfills a commitment commonly shared by both ASHHRA and HealthcareSource to support the next generation of healthcare HR leaders with educational and networking opportunities.In identifying the recipients, Michael DiPietro, vice president Marketing and Product Management, HealthcareSource, commented: “A quickly evolving healthcare mode … requires the healthcare workforce to evolve and adapt. This change must be lead by a strategic HR function and that requires fresh ideas and fresh talent. As the leading provider of talent management software solutions to healthcare, everyday we see the incredible work being done by healthcare HR professionals to lead this change. This grant is one small way for us to give back to the profession that is critical to the future of our U.S. healthcare system.”

The HealthcareSource ASHHRA “New to the Profession” grant winners are:

Krysty Hinman, The Nebraska Medical Center
Hinman entered the field of healthcare HR because "I have a clinician’s heart, but I didn’t want to be a clinician." She felt that by focusing on healthcare HR, she could have a big impact on patient care by helping those who provide direct patient care. Krysty has a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Bellevue University. "We are a leading medical center and one of the largest employers in our area. I feel a responsibility to the patients, employees, and community to learn best practices in healthcare HR at ASHHRA and implement them when I return.”

Ashley Fix, Memorial Physicians, PLLC
Fix demonstrates the drive that makes healthcare HR professionals special. "I entered the field of healthcare human resources because healthcare is faced with challenges unlike any before. As a healthcare human resource professional, I look forward to contributing creative ideas to help patients, employees, and provider through this transition." She will use the grant to leverage ASHHRA's professional development resources and strengthen her role as change agent.

Michelle Martin, Lee Regional Medical Center
After getting her degree in business administration from King College, where she graduated magna cum laude, Martin chose to pursue a career in healthcare human resources because, "Human Resources is the resource for humans to care for others, while they care for patients." She wishes to focus her efforts on supporting her organization's values of Integrity, compassion, respect, empowerment and being innovative. "I would like to enhance my learning in HR strategy by understanding how to align people strategy with corporate strategy."