NJHA President and CEO Cathy Bennett was the keynote speaker at the 2018 New Jersey Health Care Industry Summit held at the Livingston Student Center on the campus of Rutgers University-New Brunswick.

Following opening remarks by New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Robert Asaro Angelo, MS, and Assistant Commissioner Hugh Bailey, Bennett spoke on the changing landscape of how and where healthcare needs to be delivered; the dynamics of demographics and access to basics like fresh food influence population health; and the way technology will continue to shape how the healthcare industry creates jobs and delivers services to their communities.

Addressing an audience comprised of policy makers, high school and college students, healthcare employers and academia, Bennett focused on the employment and career opportunities New Jersey healthcare has provided and will continue to provide beyond this period of industry evolution. 

She focused on how entry level jobs can be a stepping stone to opportunities for higher paying careers through acquisition of stackable credentials, opening doors for workers to develop and grow economically within the industry. Also discussed were high-demand jobs and the ways in which technological developments will make delivering healthcare for hard-to-reach populations more viable. 

Additionally, the Summit featured a medical village for attendees to learn about careers and job opportunities in healthcare; a panel discussion by education leaders; a mindful art demonstration; and student presentations about changes in the vocational technical school education experience. 

The Summit was supported and hosted by the New Jersey Health Care Talent Network, housed at Rutgers University’s School of Management and Labor Relations and funded through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The Summit focuses on public health and general healthcare topics to generate a conversation and sharing of knowledge around healthcare trends. 

This year’s theme aligned with New Jersey's career attainment goal of "65 by 25" - having 65 percent of New Jersey residents earn a credential or degree by 2025. Currently, 50 percent of the workforce meets that criteria.