Message From The President
Scott Johnson, MBA, MPH, FACHE, CHFP, CSMC
2026 MCACHE President
Exploring New Rhythms
There is something about fall that invites us to notice change. The air turns crisp, the light softens earlier in the evening, and routines emerge after the open pace of summer. Leaves let go, gardens settle, sweaters come out of storage, and the calendar begins to fill with school, work, community gatherings, and the simple comforts of home.
In the middle of all this transition, fall offers us a meaningful opportunity: to choose the rhythms that will carry us through the months ahead. A new season does not require a complete reinvention of life. Often, it simply asks us to pause and ask what needs more structure, what needs more space, and what practices will help us feel grounded, connected, and renewed.
For many, the start of a new school year beginning in families brings a natural sense of fresh possibilities and required preparations. There is something about that school-year mindset that can invite us to think about our own growth as professionals. Maybe this is the season to begin a new rhythm in professional development—setting aside regular time to learn, reflect, collaborate, or strengthen a skill. What goal do we want to achieve through this rhythm? What practice would help us grow with intention, serve others more effectively, and finish the year stronger than we began?
As this fall unfolds and we consider the professional development rhythms we want to build, MCACHE is here to support you in moving those goals forward. Whether through our networking mingles, upcoming programs, or opportunities to learn alongside colleagues, we hope you will find spaces that encourage connection, growth, and renewed purpose. We especially invite you to join us for our annual meeting on November 12, featuring a remarkable panel that will offer insight, inspiration, and momentum for the year ahead.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you all,
Scott Johnson
President 2026
MCACHE Early Careerist Competition – 2026
Submit your application for the 2026 MCACHE Early Careerist Competition!
The winner will be awarded free tuition and travel to the 2027 ACHE Congress in Nashville, TN- a sweet deal for emerging healthcare leaders looking to boost their networking platform, career trajectory, and leadership potential. 2027 Congress will be held on March 22nd– 24th, 2027. Congress is ACHE’s largest annual education and networking event that offers attendees access to world-class thought leadership, insights, and perspectives from a wide array of interprofessional leaders on a variety of current topics and industry trends.
Am I eligible?
You are eligible if you:
- Are a MCACHE/ACHE member
- Are an “early careerist,” defined by ACHE as under the age of 40 years, AND
- Have participated in or led at least one MCACHE event in 2026.
What do I need to do to prepare my application?
Prepare a Powerpoint deck (10 slides maximum) that tells the story of the most impactful healthcare-related project or initiative that you led over the past year. The story should describe:
- Why the project was needed,
- A description of the project itself,
- What your role was, and
- What has been the impact of the project—for others and for yourself.
Submit your application HERE by Friday, October 30, 2026, 5:00pm ET. [If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Shamole Ahmed ([email protected]) or Tia Le ([email protected])
A final decision will be made no later than Friday, November 6, 2026. The winner will be announced at the MCACHE Annual Meeting on Thursday, Nov 12, 2026 and highlighted on LinkedIn.
How will my application be scored?
After the submission deadline, a “peer review” group will score each application. The peer review group will consist of the MCACHE Career Development Committee co-chairs and at least two other members of the Career Development Committee or the MCACHE Board.
The scoring rubric is as follows:
- Content of the submitted project: 30 points
- Clarity of project need and description (10 points)
- Presentability of the submission (10 points)
- Relevance to healthcare (10 points)
- Role of the applicant in their submitted project: 35 points
- ACHE member (yes – 5 points; no – 0 points)
- Level of involvement (i.e., leader, advisor, participant, other) (10 points)
- Clarity of how applicant was influential in the project (10 points)
- Assessment of collaboration with others on project (10 points)
- Impact of the submitted project: 35 points
- Size of population impacted (5 points)
- Degree of benefit to population impacted (10 points)
- Evidence of sustained impact or potential to sustain impact (10 points)
- Impact on applicant as a developing leader (10 points)
Logistics
- Applications will be accepted from Monday, August 31, 2026 to Friday, October 30, 2026
- Google form fields
- Basic information
- Name
- Title
- Organization or School
- Requirements
- Are you currently a MCACHE/ACHE member?
- Yes/No
- Are an “early careerist,” defined by ACHE as under the age of 40 years?
- Yes/No
- Have participated in or led at least one MCACHE event in 2026
- Yes/No
- List MCACHE event you have participated in:
- Are you currently a MCACHE/ACHE member?
- PowerPoint presentation file upload
- Basic information
