Listen to this articleA Long Island healthcare executive has been selected in the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, a partnership between the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Lyndon Johnson.
Brian Aquart, vice president of Workforce Community Education at Northwell Health’s Center for Learning and Innovation, is one of 57 scholars in the six-month program, which begins Jan. 29.
Participants are selected through a “rigorous application and review process,” according to a news release about the program. They are selected based on leadership-growth potential and personal leadership projects whose goals comprise addressing “a critical challenge or need in a community, profession or organization.”
Aquart said in the press release that he is “honored to join this esteemed group of leaders through the Presidential Leadership Scholars program.”
He said that his “work has always been about redefining healthcare education — building bridges between community needs and systemic innovation to transform how we approach workforce development. This program will strengthen my ability to lead with vision, creativity and impact in my day-to-day work and beyond. It’s a unique opportunity to grow as a leader, while continuing to challenge traditional norms in education and health care for a healthier, more equitable future.”
At Northwell, Aquart leads efforts to “address critical” workforce shortages in healthcare, including through Northwell’s School of Health Sciences as well as FutureReadyNYC and MedVoyage. His work includes developing “scalable, equitable education models that prepare individuals for meaningful healthcare careers, while meeting the evolving needs of the industry,” according to the news release.
Aquart previously served as an attorney with the New York City Fire Department, and as executive agency counsel with its Human Resources Administration.
In the leadership program, Aquart will focus on creating scalable, equity-driven education models that prepare students for high-demand health care roles while addressing barriers to access. He hopes to demonstrate how organizations can lead in redefining education through cross-sector collaboration and innovative programming.
“Brian’s leadership exemplifies the innovative spirit that drives our organization,” Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell, said in the press release.
“His dedication to advancing workforce education is helping to redefine what it means to prepare the next generation of health care professionals. I am extraordinarily proud of Brian for this recognition because he is a leader whose vision aligns with the broader belief that education is health,” Dowling said. “This program will undoubtedly amplify his ability to create meaningful change.”
During the program, scholars will travel to each participating presidential center to learn from former presidents, key former administration officials, business and civic leaders and academics. They will study and put into practice varying approaches to leadership and exchange ideas to help strengthen their impact.
Previous participants have given the program high marks since it began in 2015. For example, 96% said their confidence in how they lead social change has improved because of the program, and 97% reported having inspiration to accomplish more since beginning the program.
A graduate of University of Florida and Wayne State University Law School, Aquart is also an alumnus of Northwell’s ALEAD and Executive Leadership Development programs.