5 Unexpected Things Writing a Book on Healthcare Transformation Taught Me
I was driving somewhere recently with my daughter, a 22-year-old member of Gen Z. We were talking about jobs, the economy, and healthcare. At one point, she said:
“The older generations really take no accountability for anything…they just say it’s not my problem.”
Her comment caught me off guard -- because that’s the exact criticism I’ve often heard about her generation.
When I asked her to explain, she said that older generations say “kids today don’t want to work” or “don’t care about anything but themselves.” Yet, they rarely stop to ask why that judgment exists. She went on to say that Gen X and Boomers created the problems that digital generations now face -- ignoring climate change despite data, criticizing work ethic despite wages that can’t support living costs, creating the technology that social media is built on, and pushing college degrees that often lead to debt without opportunity.
While you may or may not agree with these points, I’ve heard similar words from Baby Boomers and Gen X that “these kids don’t take responsibility. I did my part -- it’s not my problem to solve.”
Her point was simple: don’t judge an entire generation without first reflecting on your own generation’s role in shaping their experiences. While this wasn’t the catalyst for writing a book on healthcare transformation, it was a conversation I experienced again and again during the journey. And looking at the healthcare problem from different lenses became one of the unexpected lessons I learned along the way.
And it certainly wasn’t the only one.
Other lessons that emerged in the writing process include:
Digital generations were born into technology. It’s not a debate; it’s part of their DNA. In healthcare, the provider remains critical -- but we must reimagine how technology and human connection can coexist to enhance care and efficiency.
Gen Y and Z increasingly turn to peer networks, creators, and online communities for health information. Cost and trust are driving this shift. While concerns about safety and misinformation are real, these spaces are also global, connective, and powerful. We must find ways to validate their value and protect their users.
Technology enables change, but cultural and societal shifts drive it. Like in other industries, healthcare has failed to adapt because of arrogance and a refusal to read the signs. Thinking “the way it was is the way it will be” is no longer viable.
Fee-for-service, brick-and-mortar care, and top-down systems weren’t built for today’s consumer. They lack agility. But that doesn’t mean we should throw out the knowledge gained from the old models, or what we’ve learned from them. There’s hard-won wisdom that can make emerging models safer, smarter, and more transparent.
The most powerful agents of change are those who bridge generations, industries, and perspectives. I spend a lot of time with digital natives, founders and med tech innovators. They’re solving deeply transformational problems…across generations. The ones leading the shift aren’t necessarily the loudest or biggest, but they’re the ones best able to listen across silos and build what’s next.
What This Means for the Industry
The digital generations aren’t just asking for different -- they’re building different. The industry must listen more carefully to what they are saying, doing, and valuing. This isn’t just about adoption of tools, it’s about adapting mindsets.
If you’re a founder, investor, or healthcare leader, consider:
Don’t dismiss and label the digital generations as lazy or irresponsible. They’re building what’s next and they're not waiting for permission.
Invest in connectors. Those who can listen across disciplines and generations are driving change.
Let go of the idea that what worked before will continue to work. There is a complete paradigm shift underway.
We often listen past each other, dismissing important ideas and, ultimately, each other. Let's build something better -- together. The future of healthcare depends on ALL of us thinking and listening differently.