Up & Comers - 2018

Seth Edwards started his professional career as a graphic designer, but when illness befell his father, everything changed. Nearly 13 years ago, Edwards' father was diagnosed with a tumor where the spinal cord and skull meet. After witnessing the level of care his father received before and after a successful surgery, Edwards was inspired to make a significant life change.

"I just remember thinking throughout that entire incident that these doctors, nurses and everyone related to the care he was receiving had such a significant impact on my life, and they were just doing their job," Edwards recalled. "That's something I really wanted to do for others."

In which TV medical drama would you star? "The West Wing" (policy side of healthcare)

What musician would you dream of having perform at your next birthday celebration? Miles Davis, if he were alive

What superhero are you? Captain America

He went back to school to get a graduate degree in healthcare administration and ever since has honed his talents to help healthcare organizations pursuing Medicare accountable care organizations build structures needed to succeed in value-based models. At Premier, he's improved population health efforts at 75 health systems and last year achieved 23% growth in the organization's population health services.

"My parents instilled in me at a young age that you always have to give 100% and you have to be the best that you can be in terms of the effort you put out and how you interact with people," he said.

The ACOs that Edwards partners with have outperformed other top ACOs in cost saving measures and quality.

"I want to continue to learn what other successful groups are doing and help disperse that information as broadly as we can to continue to work to improve the healthcare system for the country as a whole," he said.