Her Story
About Katherine
Katherine Sharpe is a healthcare talent acquisition leader with over a decade of experience in physician and clinician recruitment. She currently serves as Manager, Clinician Talent Acquisition at Capital Health, a regional health system in New Jersey operating two hospitals along with a growing network of ambulatory and specialty practices. Prior to this role, she built her career through progressively senior recruitment positions, including Physician Recruiter at the Physician Affiliate Group of New York and Talent Acquisition Partner at Saint Peter's Healthcare System, giving her deep expertise in employer branding, workforce planning, and customer-focused recruitment strategy.
A career changer by design, Sharpe began her professional life as a teacher after graduating from Hunter College in 2009 with a degree in English Creative Writing. Facing a difficult job market during the housing recession, she spent a year teaching English in South Korea before eventually transitioning into talent acquisition, a shift that has shaped her adaptable and growth-oriented approach to her work. She went on to earn an MBA in Business Management from Western Governors University and holds a SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Certification, reflecting her commitment to continued professional development.
Outside of her career, Sharpe is a devoted mother of two young boys and enjoys spending time with her family and husband. A creative writer at heart, she is currently working on a memoir chronicling her unconventional career path. She supports causes close to her, including Autism Speaks and the Arts Council, and remains active in the SHRM professional community, bringing the same empathy and dedication to her personal pursuits as she does to her career in healthcare recruitment.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Katherine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a constant need for growth and a willingness to step outside my comfort zone. When I find myself becoming too settled in a role, I feel compelled to learn something new or take on a fresh challenge to keep pushing myself forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't wait until you feel completely ready — just do it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women entering this field to become familiar with basic clinical concepts, even without a medical background, and to use data strategically in their decision-making. I also believe it's important to act as a strategic advisor to hiring managers, sharing insight into the job market that they may not otherwise have access to, since recruiters are the ones speaking directly with candidates every day.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see is the ongoing clinician shortage, along with managing expectations from hiring managers and leadership. At the same time, this creates real opportunity for growth, since there is strong demand for professionals who specialize in clinician talent acquisition. It's a highly specialized area that requires building relationships with clinicians early in their training, rather than simply posting a job and waiting for applicants — it takes strategy and genuine engagement to attract the right talent.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Customer service is one of my core values, and I apply it broadly — not only to candidates and hiring managers, but also to how I treat my colleagues and how promptly I respond to communications. I also place a strong emphasis on growth and consider myself an empathetic leader. I try to put myself in my team members' shoes, thinking about what they need to learn, where they might struggle, and how I can support them more effectively and anticipate their needs.
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