(H1) Practical Applications to Close Gender and Diversity Gaps in Health Care Leadership

This session was brought to you by the AMCP Career Center.

Please note this session is not accredited for continuing pharmacy education credit.

Today, women outnumber men in the allied health care professions but are still significantly underrepresented in leadership roles within the health care industry. According to an Oct. 15, 2019, article in the Wall Street Journal, women comprise the highest share of entry level positions in the health care industry, at 75%, but represent less than 33% of the C-suite leaders. This number drops to just 6% for women of color. Whether it’s untapped opportunities, lack of mentors, or unconscious bias on the part of both genders, women in health care are encountering the same obstacles that prevent them from advancing as their counterparts in other professions. Employers have a stake in changing this status quo and are encouraged to look realistically at biases that may drive these trends. Barriers may not simply be the traditional “glass ceiling” but also an invisible wall that limits access to experiences that are necessary stepping-stones for women to obtain CEO positions. Today, diverse skill sets and experience with profit and loss responsibility are essential for developing senior leadership. Success requires not only climbing the “management ladder” but also fully embracing the “management lattice,” by stepping into roles that round out one’s professional experience but may not necessarily represent a promotion.

During this session, five women of diverse backgrounds who have advanced to executive levels in managed care pharmacy, health care recruiting and the pharmaceutical industry will discuss their experiences and share best practices that support gender equity. This program will provide important insights to both men and women who are working to level the playing field in health care leadership. Hard and soft skills, competencies and mentorship programs will be discussed during this highly interactive, open forum.