Race, ethnicity, and careers in healthcare management

This article discusses the result of a study we conducted to investigate the factors that facilitate or impede healthcare management career opportunities and satisfaction from the perspective of racially and ethnically diverse healthcare managers. These healthcare managers were invited to participate in focus groups wherein they engaged in a structured discussion of six questions germane to race, ethnicity, and healthcare management careers. Nineteen themes were identified in the study analysis, eight of which emerged in all focus groups irrespective of race and ethnicity. In this article, we discuss the implications of the results for research and organization change and development and we recommend plans of action in four areas identified from the 19 themes: (1) industry leadership, (2) health administration education, (3) health management research, and (4) best practices.