The new rules of hiring in healthcare technology
Published:
March 21, 2026
Published in People Matters authored by Kasey Heron, director of talent acquisition at Cohere Health
Overview:
The healthcare technology sector is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and traditional recruitment models are quickly becoming insufficient. The skills needed today are more specialized and interdisciplinary, rooted in a deep understanding of the latest technology, candidate expectations, and agile workforce planning. Modern hiring in today’s healthcare technology ecosystem requires the capacity to respond to evolving industry standards, meet people where they are, and drive innovation–ultimately building resilient, mission-driven teams for a future that is continuously being rewritten.
Key themes covered:
1. Mission alignment is essential
- Beyond technical capabilities, candidates must be passionate about improving fragmented healthcare systems.
- Understanding healthcare’s impact on access and outcomes is a key differentiator in a shifting talent market.
2. Learning agility matters more than the perfect background
- The pace of innovation and regulatory change demands teams that can quickly adapt, not just those with polished resumes.
- Assessing how candidates navigate ambiguity and embrace new challenges is crucial during the interview process.
- Organizations should value candidates with a proven record of adapting across roles, environments, and functions.
3. Redefining what "healthcare experience" means today
- Hiring teams should embrace candidates with valuable non-industry expertise from sectors like enterprise software, consulting, or consumer technology.
- Teams that combine deep healthcare knowledge and outside perspectives encourages new ways of thinking and solving problems.
4. Interdisciplinary collaboration from day one
- Successful healthcare technology projects integrate clinicians, engineers, and operational leaders from the start.
- Candidates should be skilled at working in cross-functional environments and communicating with both technical and clinical colleagues.
- Interdisciplinary teams are more responsive to market needs and regulatory requirements.
5. Flexibility and intentional distributed hiring
- Remote and hybrid arrangements enable access to wider and more diverse talent pools.
- Effective distributed teams require thoughtful onboarding and ongoing attention to communication and culture.
- Clear articulation of purpose, growth opportunities, and flexible work design give organizations a competitive edge.
Written by
Kasey
Heron
Kasey Heron leads Talent Acquisition at Cohere Health, where she has played a central role in scaling the company by more than 300 percent within her first three years. She partners closely with the executive team on all C‑suite searches and external talent initiatives, and oversees a high‑performing team that recruits across every function, including clinical, technical, and operational roles. Under her leadership, the team maintains a 45‑day average SLA and an offer acceptance rate consistently above 85 percent.
Kasey is deeply committed to intentional, mission‑aligned hiring and to leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and elevate the candidate experience. Beyond recruitment, she leads company‑wide hiring practice trainings, contributes to employer brand strategy and content development, and drives initiatives that strengthen culture and employee engagement. Her work spans onboarding, cross‑functional collaboration, and programs designed to keep employees connected, supported, and set up to thrive.
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