#205 - Leading Talent Through Change

In this episode, Luke Carignan sits down with Kelly Trummer, AVP of Talent Acquisition at Wellstar Health System, to unpack what’s next for healthcare recruiting in a rapidly evolving workforce landscape. 

With prior experience at Yale New Haven Health and Southcoast Health, she brings a national perspective on what’s changing—and what must change—inside healthcare TA. 

For Kelly, talent acquisition in healthcare is about direct impact. Every hire affects patient care. That purpose continues to fuel her work and leadership approach. 

The Post-Pandemic Reality 

The workforce challenge has shifted. We are no longer hiring our way out of shortages in nursing, imaging, and therapeutic roles. Instead, organizations must rethink strategy: 

• Develop internal pipelines
• Engage future talent earlier
• Reduce friction in recruiting processes
• Compete in an increasingly tight labor market 

AI Is Not Replacing Recruiters 

One of the most powerful themes of the conversation: AI is not eliminating recruiters—it is elevating them. 

By removing administrative burdens, automation allows recruiters to focus on what matters most: relationship building, intentional conversations, and strategic workforce planning. 

However, adoption requires balance. Healthcare organizations must bridge generational divides in comfort with AI while ensuring candidate experiences remain human-centered and frictionless. 

The recruiter of the future? Agile, relationship-driven, and technologically fluent. 

Differentiation in a Crowded Market 

For Wellstar, competitive advantage comes down to how the organization treats its people. Total rewards, wellbeing programs, and individualized career paths are not just benefits—they are differentiators. 

Kelly reinforces that talent acquisition leaders must invest in their own teams and build peer networks across the industry. Collaboration, not isolation, will define success in the years ahead. 

Final Advice for TA Leaders 

• Plug into your national healthcare TA network
 • Invest in your people
 • Build internal pipelines early
 • Stay agile
 • Embrace change proactively 

The future of healthcare talent acquisition will belong to leaders who move early, think long-term, and bring others with them.