Regional Healthcare Lead Spotlight
Swinerton’s Northern California healthcare construction team is recognized for its technical innovation, collaborative spirit, and relentless focus on client satisfaction, delivering award-winning hospitals, medical office buildings, and complex renovations throughout the region.
At the helm is Vice President and Division Manager Jared Backman, who brings nearly three decades of expertise in healthcare construction and preconstruction. Under Jared’s leadership, Swinerton continues to be a trusted partner to healthcare clients across Northern California, providing industry-leading solutions that adapt to the evolving needs of modern healthcare environments.
In this conversation, Jared reflects on his journey, the challenges and rewards of healthcare construction, and how Swinerton’s employee-owner culture supports reliability, innovation, and long-term client success.
FROM PAST TO PRESENT
Q: Where did you grow up, and where did you go to school?
I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT, and attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. Now based in Sacramento, CA, since 2019, I lead healthcare construction projects across Northern California.
Q: How did you get into the construction industry?
During college, I initially planned to become an engineer and enrolled in all the prerequisite classes for the engineering program. As part of the curriculum, I attended a lecture series featuring industry leaders, many of whom were from the general contracting side. That’s when I discovered construction management as an option within the school of engineering. After meeting with my counselor, I realized I could graduate a semester earlier by pursuing construction management. I changed my degree on the spot and never looked back.
Q: How did you move into healthcare construction?
I was drawn to healthcare construction because of the challenge and attention to detail these projects demand, as well as the rewarding feeling that comes from knowing the positive impact they have on the community.
Q: What are you particularly passionate about in healthcare construction?
I’m passionate about the importance of relationships—whether it’s with clients who trust us to build their projects, the design professionals we collaborate with, or the teamwork among our skilled trade partners and suppliers. The direct impact our work has on the patient experience and creating environments that support healing is truly motivating.
Keeping Pace with a Changing Industry
Q: What do you see as the future of healthcare construction?
With an aging population, the demand for quality healthcare facilities will only increase. There’s a growing need for specialized spaces focused on imaging, cancer treatment, mental health, preventative care, and outpatient procedures, just to mention a few. As healthcare builders, we have a responsibility to help lower the cost of healthcare by delivering quality facilities more efficiently and cost-effectively. I see opportunities in modularity and prefabrication, shifting toward offsite construction for greater efficiency in jobsite installation. The use of data and technology—including AI and BIM—will continue to enhance planning and coordination, integrating all systems into a comprehensive approach.
Project Highlight: Building for Community and Care
Q: What has been your favorite healthcare project?
One of my first projects as a project manager was a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) addition at a children’s hospital. As the project was wrapping up, my newborn son was diagnosed with a heart murmur, and a few weeks later, I found myself in the waiting room of that very MRI suite. It was a proud moment knowing the state-of-the-art project was built correctly and my son was receiving the best care available. Thankfully, his condition was minor and treatable. Since then, I’ve approached every project as if someone I know—friends, family, neighbors, or acquaintances—might one day rely on that facility and deserves our very best effort.
Career Insight and Mentorship
Q: What advice would you give younger professionals entering this industry and this market?
First, be curious—ask questions and be driven to find answers. Second, focus on improving your written and verbal communication skills. Those who can clearly communicate complex topics will accelerate their career growth.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Healthcare Construction
Q: What do you see as the future of healthcare construction?
I think more healthcare institutions are looking for ways to deliver care to communities in the most efficient way. In many cases, that is an integrated healthcare model that brings the services closer to the communities being served. This includes ambulatory surgery centers, specialty care clinics, primary care clinics, and imaging clinics that are spread out from the single campus model. Delivering care facilities exactly where they’re needed gives Swinerton an opportunity to be a vital collaborator in defining how healthcare institutions will operate in the future. We need to continue to evolve and adapt as quickly as our partners in the healthcare industry.
Swinerton’s Value in Healthcare Construction
Q: What do you think is Swinerton’s greatest asset when it comes to healthcare construction?
Swinerton’s greatest asset in healthcare construction is our employee-owners. This ownership culture instills a deep sense of personal responsibility and commitment to project outcomes, driving our team to deliver excellence on every project. Our collaborative approach, fueled by the dedication of our employee-owners, is especially vital in navigating the complexities and unique challenges of healthcare construction.
Building the Future of Northern California Healthcare Construction
As the healthcare landscape evolves, Swinerton’s Northern California team continues to lead with adaptability, integrity, and innovation. Under Jared Backman’s leadership, the division is helping healthcare systems across the region deliver next-generation facilities that are efficient, resilient, and centered on patient care.
“Our healthcare projects are diverse, ranging from equipment installations to full ground-up facility builds,” says Jared. “Often, we’re working within active hospitals and on campuses that operate 24/7. Our clients rely on us to manage complex phasing plans and adhere to strict protocols that ensure the safety of patients and staff, all while minimizing disruption. Ultimately, success is measured in the value our projects have in improving the patient experience.”
Swinerton delivers healthcare projects across Northern California and nationwide, combining technical expertise, integrated delivery, and patient-centered design to facilitates that advance care delivery and community health.
