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Career Insights & Advancement

5 Lessons to Thrive in Your First Five Years: Becoming A T-Shaped Professional

Wednesday, March 4, 2026
2:00pm - 3:00pm CT
Credit(s): 1.0

The first five years of your career set the foundation for long-term success. In today’s dynamic healthcare environment, technical expertise alone is not always enough; you need versatility, adaptability and the ability to collaborate across disciplines. This session explores five crucial lessons—hands-on experience, mentorship, continuous learning, networking and advanced education—and how they intersect with becoming a T-shaped professional. Learn practical strategies from healthcare leaders who’ve done it and discover how to combine depth in your specialty with breadth across the industry to build a successful career.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss the concept of a T-shaped professional and why it matters in healthcare leadership.
  • Identify five key strategies for success in the first five years of your career and how they build depth and breadth, as well as actionable steps to develop both specialized expertise and cross-functional skills for long-term career growth.