Women’s History Month is celebrated annually in March to celebrate the of essential role of women in the United States’ history. For Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the recent achievements of six women leaders in the American healthcare field. We hope you will be inspired by the impactful contributions of these experts.
Nancy Brown is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Heart Association (AHA). Under Nancy’s leadership as CEO since 2008, the AHA has become a global authority on cardiovascular and brain health. Nancy champions equitable health for all and is committed to innovation at the intersection of science, technology and public health on behalf of patients and their families. Read more about her here.
Tracy A. Neal-Walden, Ph.D., is the Chief Clinical Officer of Cohen Veterans’ Network. She leads the development and implementation of network-wide clinical practice guidelines and ensures all the network’s clinics meet the highest professional standards of access, empirical quality care, and ethical service delivery. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force, where she served for over 24 years as the Air Force’s Director of Psychological Health and Chief of Behavioral Health, retiring in the rank of Colonel. Read more about her here.
Karen B. DeSalvo, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., is the Chief Health Officer at Google. Dr. DeSalvo is passionate about improving access to high-quality, affordable care for all, especially vulnerable populations. She previously served as Assistant Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Learn more about her here and here.
Bonnie Castillo, RN, is the Executive Director of National Nurses United (NNU), leading the country’s largest professional organization of registered nurses. She is a proponent of Medicare for All and the adoption of safe nursing staffing models. Read more about her here and here.
Annette Walker, M.H.A., is the President of City of Hope Orange County. She oversees the organization’s Irvine, California-based comprehensive cancer research and treatment center, known for its lifesaving clinical trials and leading-edge technologies. She is passionate about closing the healthcare gender gap through sponsorship and mentorship. Learn more about her here and here.
Rosanna Morris is the Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she oversees inpatient and outpatient operations, ensuring the center provides high-quality care for patients and their families. After the death of a 23-year-old leukemia patient at MD Anderson, she led efforts toward improved blood transfusion safeguards and education as well as adverse event reporting. Learn more about her here and here.
For more information about Women’s History Month:
- Learn about the history of Women’s History Month
- Visit womenshistorymonth.gov and peruse their exhibits and collections
