What's Boosting Women's Presence In Healthcare…

While women make up the majority of entry-level roles in healthcare organizations, they accounted for only 35% of C-suite leaders in 2024, according to a recent report from McKinsey. This is up from 29% in 2020. Intentional succession planning plays a key role in improving women's leadership representation, said Sara Safarzadeh Amiri, MD, chief medical officer of Odessa (Texas) Regional Medical Center.

⁘One of the most powerful ways I've seen progress on women's representation is when succession planning is framed not as ⁘filling seats' or ⁘checking off boxes,' but as broadening perspectives at the leadership table,⁘ Dr. Safarzadeh Amiri told Becker's . ⁘Healthcare serves diverse communities and leadership should reflect that diversity of thought and experience.⁘ Women often bring strengths such as empathy, resiliency, collaboration, relational intelligence and a community-centered lens, she said.

⁘These are all essential qualities in navigating today's complex healthcare environment,⁘ Dr. Safarzadeh Amiri said. ⁘When organizations intentionally make space for these perspectives, they foster more innovative and collaborative solutions, stronger and resilient teams, and leadership that resonates with both workforce and patients.⁘ Leaders said that both mentorship and sponsorship are important.

While mentorship provides guidance, perspective and encouragement, sponsorship is different — and often more effective in career progression. A sponsor ⁘takes a real chance on you,⁘ Crystal Captain, DNP, RN, associate COO of University Health Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo., told Becker's . ⁘A sponsor puts your name forward in rooms you're not in, opens doors and advocates for your next step,⁘ she said.

⁘Both are important, but what truly accelerates careers is sponsorship paired with opportunity. When women are given stretch assignments, access to strategic projects, and the space to lead before they feel perfectly ready, that's where growth happens. It is also important for women to have the courage to say, ⁘yes,' before feeling 100% ready.

The shift we need is more leaders, both men and women moving from being mentors to being active sponsors.⁘ More takeaways: See here