Congratulations to Melinda Bemis (MHA ’10) and Scott Mortensen (MHA ’09) for being selected for the International Hospital Federation (IHF) Young Executive Leaders initiative. This initiative selects young executive leaders with proven leadership skills in health care management to join a cohort of talented thought leaders from around the world through a highly competitive and rigorous application process. The IHF Young Executive Leaders initiative provides an opportunity to share experiences, challenges and good practices, learn from their peers, work together on a relevant subject matter, and share their work with the international health care community. Bemis and Mortensen were nominated for the program by Jim Rice (MHA ‘71) and Mary Ellen Wells (MHA ‘84).

“The [University of Minnesota] MHA program prepared us for leading in health care systems locally and around the world,” says Bemis. “Knowing how to use the Minnesota problem-solving method lends itself well to addressing large-scale, global problems in a team setting, which helped our applications stand out.”

Bemis and Mortensen will spend the next year working with 16 other young leaders around the world as they explore the impact of innovation and technology on young executive leaders.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to learn from other health care leaders and further explore what it means to provide high quality, effective health care around the world,” says Mortensen.

Bemis and Mortensen were selected as the only two representatives from the United States to participate in the initiative.