New Book Provides Practical Framework for Leading Multigenerational Healthcare Teams

Genfluence by Dan Collard and Katherine A. Meese, PhD offers strategies to bridge generational divides and leverage diverse strengths.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A new book, Genfluence by Dan Collard and Katherine A. Meese, PhD, provides a practical framework for healthcare leaders to navigate the challenges of managing a multigenerational workforce. With four generations now working side-by-side, the authors explain how leaders can dispel myths, improve communication, foster innovation, and create a culture of belonging to address workforce shortages, retention issues, and burnout.

Why it matters

As the healthcare industry faces a 'perfect storm' of factors exacerbating generational divides - including longer lifespans, COVID-19 retirements, and the rise of digital natives - the ability to effectively lead and leverage a diverse workforce has become critical. Genfluence provides a research-backed approach to turning generational differences into organizational strengths and improving key metrics like attraction, retention, and patient care.

The details

Genfluence introduces the concept of a 'Genfluencer' - a workplace influencer who bridges divides, builds trust, and maximizes the unique strengths of each generation. The book outlines seven cultural building blocks to foster trust, belonging, and accountability, as well as an eight-step 'Control + Alt + Lead' framework to help leaders reboot their approach to coaching and inspiring multigenerational teams.

  • Genfluence was published in January 2026.

The players

Dan Collard

Coauthor of Genfluence and a healthcare industry veteran with over three decades of experience in hospital and health system operations, technology startups, and consulting.

Katherine A. Meese, PhD

Coauthor of Genfluence, with fifteen years of experience in healthcare management, leadership, and research, and an award-winning scholar and author in organizational behavior, well-being, and leadership.

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What they’re saying

“When leaders learn how to dispel myths and fix generational issues, they can improve communication, foster innovation, create belonging, and ultimately create better patient care.”

— Dan Collard, Coauthor of Genfluence (EINPresswire)

“The future of healthcare depends on our ability to understand each other across age, role, and hierarchy. And despite what clickbait headlines would have us believe, we are more alike than we think.”

— Dan Collard, Coauthor of Genfluence (EINPresswire)

What’s next

Genfluence is available for order at ACHE and Amazon.

The takeaway

By providing a research-backed framework to bridge generational divides and leverage the unique strengths of each age group, Genfluence offers healthcare leaders a practical solution to address critical workforce challenges and improve patient care.