Passing the Torch (and maybe a virtual drive): Welcoming the Next Generation of Healthcare Educators

By John Spencer, Platinum Educational Group

There’s a quiet revolution occurring in the halls of healthcare education—not with protest signs or dramatic declarations, but with the soft click of new sneakers and the gentle hum of smartphones set to “Do Not Disturb.” As a proud Gen Xer, I recall the days when overhead projectors and pagers were revolutionary. Now, we’re witnessing Millennials and Gen Z confidently step into educator roles with their Canva slide decks and TikTok-level engagement skills. And honestly? It's kind of impressive. Slightly alarming—but impressive.

We grew up in a world where lectures dominated, textbooks weighed as much as a small dog, and the concept of “online learning” felt like science fiction. Fast forward to today, and we’re attending faculty meetings where terms like “asynchronous engagement” and “gamification” are tossed around like confetti. These new educators aren’t just tech-savvy—they’re entirely rethinking our approach to education. And while we often joke about feeling like dinosaurs, there’s something refreshing in all of this.

Furthermore, they offer a perspective shaped by entirely different formative experiences. They grew up in a post-internet, post-smartphone era, and in some instances, a post-encyclopedia world. Their instincts favor collaboration, customization, and cultural awareness. They view their students not merely as learners but as complete individuals with needs, barriers, and unique strengths. It’s not that we didn’t—we simply didn’t always have the terminology or theoretical framework to articulate it.

Of course, the transition has its quirks. There are moments of miscommunication, like when someone says, “DM me,” and we wonder why they’re referring to Dungeon Masters. Or when they enthusiastically suggest replacing traditional syllabi with interactive digital scavenger hunts, and we awkwardly smile while Googling “digital scavenger hunt.” But let’s be honest—didn’t we do the same thing to the Boomers with our floppy disks and grunge-era motivational posters?

Still, amidst these generational differences, a beautiful exchange is taking place. We are mentoring them on the value of experience, professional resilience, and perhaps even the occasional proper comma usage. They are showing us new ways to engage learners, connect meaningfully, and keep the classroom experience relevant. Together, we are building something stronger than any one generation could create alone, hence, passing the torch.

As we welcome this new wave of healthcare educators, let’s embrace them with humor, curiosity, and perhaps a cheat sheet for all the latest acronyms. They possess the passion and digital finesse; we bring the wisdom and our war stories—and if we do this right, the future of healthcare education will not only be in good hands but in great ones.