Young leaders driven by a desire to serve

Members of our 2016 class of Up & Comers, Modern Healthcare's 30th, have a common motivational thread running through their ascents to healthcare leadership: a deep desire to serve and improve the lives of their fellow citizens.

Their paths into healthcare, on the other hand, are as unique as the 12 individuals we honor.

Jacey Cooper, for instance, aspired to medicine, but early motherhood drove her to a career in healthcare consulting. Now she is a rising star among public servants in California, serving Gov. Jerry Brown in a key leadership role.

Andre Boyd, born to a teenage mother, grew up in his grandmother's home surrounded by her other grandchildren. His motivation to enter healthcare management was inspired by his frequent visits to the emergency room, which was the only form of primary care he knew as a child.

Alan Murray was a semi-pro soccer player in Europe who came to the U.S. to be with his girlfriend. It comes as no surprise that he sees teamwork as the key to success in building payer-provider collaborations.

One of the hardest jobs we face every year is choosing among the standout young leaders competing for our annual Up & Comers awards. If leadership is in short supply, you wouldn't know it from the 110 nominations we received this year.

Will one of this year's picks become as influential as the all-star Up & Comers of the past three decades we feature in this section? It is just as likely to be some of many of the worthy candidates who didn't make this list. Judging from the quality of the applications we received, the future of healthcare is in good hands.