Legacy – it’s something we all want to create and leave behind, whether it’s through our career, social impact or through our friends and family.
For Jennifer Lacarriere, a medical professional with experience in the maternity ward and cardiac units, it’s about creating an accessible and equitable healthcare environment that supports future generations to come.
The Commonwealth Fund, a private U.S. foundation focused on creating a high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency for society’s most vulnerable, including low-income people, supports Jennifer Lacarriere’s sentiment.
The Commonwealth Fund has investigated the future of U.S. healthcare, sharing that despite high U.S. spending, Americans experience worse health outcomes than their peers around the world. For example, life expectancy dropped in the U.S. by 2021. While one culprit was the pandemic, it’s evident that there are new risks to our health span and life expectancy today.
To mitigate this issue, they suggest that one culprit is the lack of access to universal healthcare coverage, leaving some of society’s most vulnerable without adequate healthcare. Whether it be an unexpected health situation, or simply aging, health outcomes are not as favorable for those who are less economically fortunate.
On the topic of legacy, Jennifer Lacarriere has already been leaving a positive impact. Through healthcare advocacy and by sharing pertinent industry experiences on her personal website and on digital platforms, she’s encouraging people to engage in discussions about healthcare and to rally around expanding healthcare in a way that supports everyone.
In addition to the lack of healthcare access many individuals in the U.S. face, staffing might also become an issue in coming years. In a previous interview, Jennifer Lacarriere discusses some of the potential challenges on the horizon, including many healthcare professionals who are retiring. To overcome this inevitable reality, Lacarriere says it’s important to show people their true potential and that they can become nurses, doctors and specialists.
“It’s personal belief and the pursuit of what you believe in that will give you the grit and perseverance to pursue a career in healthcare,” says Lacarriere, who’s eager to continue motivating people to consider working in healthcare.
Aside from creating a respectable legacy built around advocacy and hard work, Jennfier Lacarriere has dedicated her own personal time to discuss topics like medical advancements, maternity and motherhood and community care initiatives.
While applying to NYU, Jennifer Lacarriere says she had no idea she would be where she is today. From helping mothers and communicating with families in the maternity ward to performing life-saving care for patients in the cardiac unit, Lacarriere is proud of her for the impactful career she’s had.
“I’m still going, and it could be you too,” says Lacarriere. “If you believe in yourself and set your sights on a career in healthcare, then it truly is a possibility.”
Lacarriere encourages anybody who resonates with these messages to visit her personal website where she shares personal stories, experiences and timely information about the U.S. healthcare system.
