April 25, 2023 – William Brewer is the Enterprise Vice President of Supply Chain Management/GPO Operation at Advocate Health in Washington, D.C. Read an excerpt from The Journal of Healthcare Contracting’s “Future Leaders”.
What interested you about a career in healthcare?
I was drawn to the healthcare field at a young age. In fact, I set my sights on a degree and a career in healthcare administration in my mid-teenage years and have never looked back. I have always believed the healthcare field to be a noble cause, in that it provides critical services to people and their families when they need it the most. The reality is, we all require healthcare services at some point in our lives; to be part of a field that supports people, both in times of happiness and in need, has always been what has drawn me. Whether it is in supply chain or working as a direct care provider, we all have a role to play in ensuring that we are providing the best service and experience to the patients that we serve.
What do you like about working in supply chain? Was it a position you sought, or found out about once you began working in the field?
During college I was fortunate to receive an appointment as an Administrative Intern at University of Missouri Healthcare. My preceptor was the VP of Supply Chain/Support Services. I recall stepping into the role for the summer knowing very little about supply chain and never realizing that it played such a critical role in the delivery of care. I was addicted from the start. And while I have had the great fortune to work in many different roles during my career, they have always been connected to the healthcare supply chain. I have the same feeling now that I did then – supply chain remains as one of the most critical, and sometimes unappreciated, areas of the healthcare delivery system. Twenty years into my career, I am still learning something new every day and believe that we have a tremendous opportunity to continuously improve. Every day is different, and I love that.
Read the rest of the interview in the latest issue of The Journal of Healthcare Contracting.