As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the modern workplace, the health and wellness sector is discovering that the most sought-after qualities remain deeply human. That was the central takeaway from American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) fourth annual Employer Summit, held virtually on Thursday, October 15, where industry leaders gathered to examine emerging workforce trends and the skills that will define success in a rapidly evolving field.
Industry leaders highlight AI, essential human skills, and emerging workforce trends shaping the future of health and wellness education.
The event brought together professionals from healthcare, nutrition, botanical products, technology, career development, and wellness to explore how education can better align with real-world workforce needs. For ACHS, the summit provided direct insight into employer priorities, evolving career paths, and the challenges organizations face as technology and consumer expectations shift.
“One of the most valuable aspects of our Employer Summit is the opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders about what they’re seeing, the challenges they’re facing, and where new opportunities are emerging,” said Ilana Rose Frigaard, Chief Operating Officer at ACHS. “These conversations help us stay connected to the evolving needs of the workforce and ensure we’re developing relevant educational programs that prepare our students for what’s next.”
A recurring theme dominated the discussions: even as AI transforms how work gets done, employers continue to prize distinctly human capabilities such as communication, critical thinking, sound judgment, and relationship-building.
AI, Human Skills, and Workforce Readiness Take Center Stage
ACHS’s 2026 employer survey and summit discussions surfaced several key industry trends, workforce challenges, and opportunities:
- Emerging trends: AI adoption, economic uncertainty, evolving technology, and changing consumer expectations.
- Workforce challenges: Recruiting qualified talent, closing skills gaps, and preparing employees to use AI effectively.
- Essential skills: Communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.
- Responsible AI use: Improving efficiency while maintaining authentic communication, human connection, and accountability.
- Growth opportunities: Personalized and preventative wellness, whole-person care, flexible career models, sustainability, quality, and regulatory knowledge.
Employer Feedback Helps Shape ACHS Programs
The summit is part of ACHS’s broader effort to weave employer perspectives into curriculum development and career preparation. Insights from previous summits have already informed new educational offerings, including graduate certificates in Integrative Longevity and Healthy Aging, Women’s Hormonal Health, and Botanical Regulatory Affairs, as well as new Departments of Botanical Therapeutics and Integrative Mental Health and Well-Being.
These programs reflect growing interest in emerging areas of the health and wellness workforce and the demand for professionals with evidence-informed knowledge and practical skills.
“Employer collaboration is essential to preparing graduates for today’s evolving workforce,” said Tiff Darwich, Director of Partnerships at ACHS, who facilitated the summit’s discussion. “What stood out across our diverse industry leaders was the shared recognition that, as AI continues to evolve, the human element remains irreplaceable. Strong communication skills, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively are essential, whether working remotely or in person. These conversations help us identify common workforce needs and strengthen the connection between education and meaningful career opportunities.”
Diverse Industry Perspectives Inform the Conversation
The 2026 Employer Summit drew a broad range of participants representing healthcare and telehealth services, nutrition and wellness, natural and botanical products, aromatherapy, clean beauty and personal care manufacturing, healthcare cost sharing, technology and business software, workforce development, education, and professional associations.
Participating organizations included:
- Berry Street
- TimelyCare
- Eclectic Herb
- Dr. Z’s Revitafresh
- Knew Health
- Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA)
- AzureWell / Azure Standard
- Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics
- Wellness Vault
- Ology Essentials Labs
- Career Team
- Zoho Corporation
- Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center
- Life2Launch Institute
The variety of backgrounds helped broaden the conversation to examine how workforce expectations, technology, professional development, and evolving care models are shaping the health and wellness sector.
ACHS plans to use the insights from this year’s summit, along with ongoing employer feedback, to guide academic planning, strengthen career preparation, and pursue continued industry collaboration. Findings from the 2026 summit will be published in an upcoming white paper.
In the meantime, those interested can review findings from the previous year’s summit in ACHS’s published white paper, Integrative Health Outlook 2026: Insights & Opportunities Shaping the Future of Wellness Work, which highlights key insights and opportunities from the 2025 Employer Summit.
About American College of Healthcare Sciences
Founded in 1978, American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ACHS offers online degree programs, certificates, microcredentials, and continuing education courses in areas including integrative health, nutrition, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, and wellness coaching.
As a Certified B Corporation® and People and Planet First Verified organization, ACHS is committed to advancing sustainable and ethical practices while preparing graduates for opportunities in the evolving health and wellness workforce.
For more information about ACHS partnerships, visit the ACHS partnership website. For questions about this press release or to schedule an interview, contact Tracey Abell at president@achs.edu.
Tracey Abell
American College of Healthcare Sciences
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Why it matters: As AI adoption accelerates across industries, the health and wellness workforce is navigating a delicate balance between technological efficiency and the irreplaceable human touch. ACHS’s commitment to translating employer feedback into new academic programs signals that educational institutions are increasingly expected to be responsive partners in workforce development, not just providers of degrees.
