By Wyeth Ruthven, Director of Congressional and Public Relations, Health Industry Distributors Association
HIDA’s Emerging Leaders program recognizes college students pursuing degrees in supply chain management and public health who have a demonstrated interest in working in healthcare distribution. These students are provided with scholarships to attend HIDA’s annual MedSupplyChain conference. Now in its third year, this class of Emerging Leaders offers an impressive array of credentials and experience.
- This year’s Emerging Leaders were chosen from the most competitive selection process yet, with more than 30 students applying for just 10 spots.
- Students come from eight colleges, the largest cohort of schools ever represented.
- For the first time ever, three graduate students are joining seven undergraduates in the class of Emerging Leaders.
The depth and breadth of this class of Emerging Leaders extends beyond these statistics. We wanted to hear from these students in their own words, asking them to share their interest in the medical supply chain and their motivations to participate in HIDA’s programming. From their responses, several key themes repeatedly emerged:
Advancing operational excellence in medical supply chains
The 2026 cohort draws from a variety of work experience across the continuum of care – with internships and part-time jobs at hospitals, pharmacies and drug manufacturers. These students have contributed to initiatives to improve vaccine access, boost HIV/AIDS research, and promote exercise as a form of preventative medicine. They have global perspectives, with experience spanning the globe from Canada to Nigeria.
Damilola Bolanle from Johns Hopkins University shared that “Before graduate school, I oversaw the movement of investigational medicinal products from manufacturers to over 35 clinical trial sites across eight countries. This experience deepened my understanding of how operational precision and collaboration underpin supply chain reliability in healthcare.”
Improving patient care through better systems and processes
HIDA’s Emerging Leaders possess a deep commitment to improving patient care. They understand that supply chain performance directly affects patients and clinicians. Many describe how operational inefficiency impacts care, and how thoughtful system design can empower healthcare teams and improve outcomes.
According to Shayan Siddiqui from Arizona State, “Healthcare especially motivates me because the stakes are human.” Jadazay Ledbetter at Western Michigan added that: “I was only one class away from applying to nursing school when I realized that what truly interested me wasn’t just patient care itself, but the system that made it possible.”
A passion for innovation, problem‑solving, and continuous improvement
Students in the 2026 Class expressed enthusiasm for tackling complex challenges. They are drawn to opportunities to optimize processes, strengthen partnerships, and build more agile, data‑driven systems.
Aleeza Rana from Michigan State University commented: “What excites me most about supply chain management is its problem-solving nature. The impacts of COVID-19 and a strained supply chain hit close to home. Seeing how end-to-end supply chain processes directly affected families like mine inspired my passion for creating resilient systems.”
Running through all of this year’s Emerging Leaders is a shared dedication to enhancing healthcare access and outcomes through innovative supply chain practices. With such driven and talented individuals entering the profession, the outlook for healthcare distribution is more optimistic than ever.