The purpose of this study is to reveal how effective leadership should be in hospitals from the perspective of generation Y academics working in the health management department. The study sample consists of six academicians, three women and three men working in three different universities. The data were collected by using semi-structured interview technique. The interview form consists of questions regarding the demographic characteristics of the academicians and open-ended questions prepared by the researchers. Interview recordings were subjected to descriptive and content analyses. Four of the academics participating in the research are health management graduates, one is a health education graduate and one is a finance graduate. Three of the participants have previous experience working in a hospital. As a result of the research, generation Y academics defined the effective hospital leader as people with communication skills, reliable, good relations with the environment, and who have knowledge and equipment on legal legislation and policies, conflict management, finance, accounting and economics. Generation Y academics consider it important to appreciate and thank hospital staff for their motivation, to improve their working environment and conditions, and to offer them opportunities for advancement. It is seen that the vast majority of respondents recommend candidates for hospital leaders to constantly gain knowledge. The findings coincide with the characteristics of the generation Y academics who are willing to learn, who think that strict supervision negatively affects their motivation, attaches importance to trust in their relations with superiors, and is progress and relationship oriented.