Paying it Forward: Empowering Career Migration Journeys
On the latest episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims sits down with Sinead Carbery, President of International Staffing Solutions, and Gillian Williams, MSN, BS, RN, Senior Director of Clinical Operations, both from AMN Healthcare. The episode delves into the complexities of global career mobility for healthcare professionals, with Sinead and Gillian sharing their personal experiences as internationally educated nurses who transitioned to the U.S. in search of opportunity.
Sinead, originally from Ireland, and Gillian, from Trinidad, describe the challenges they faced when moving their careers across borders. For Sinead, the journey was an adventure shaped by economic challenges in Ireland and the steep learning curve of adapting to new clinical practices in the U.S. Gillian’s migration was driven by a lack of career mobility in Trinidad, where advancement opportunities were rare. Both emphasized the importance of adaptability, self-care, and building support networks to thrive in a new healthcare system.
Now leaders in international recruitment, Sinead and Gillian are passionate about helping others navigate similar journeys. Sinead, a CGFNS Daisy Award honoree for Ethical Recruitment, shared how AMN Healthcare prioritizes transparency and fairness, ensuring clinicians are supported both professionally and personally. She highlighted that ethical recruitment goes beyond job placement, extending to helping healthcare workers and their families adjust to life in a new country.
Reflecting on the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, Sinead and Gillian noted the increasing importance of technology, such as telehealth and AI, and the need for a growth mindset among clinicians. They emphasized that global career mobility is often about more than economics—it’s about creating better opportunities for families and advancing professional aspirations.
