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 2024, 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.
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.
Elizabeth Fowler, J.D., Ph.D., is the Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. She previously helped develop and implement the Affordable Care Act. At CMMI, she has led the development of new payment and delivery models aimed at making healthcare spending more sustainable and achieving more equitable care for patients. Read 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 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.
Mary Pittman is the former President and CEO of Public Health Institute (PHI), where she launched the Population Health Innovation Lab, which engaged communities in addressing health disparities. She is passionate about public health and has worked closely with government health agencies on programs to address health inequities. She has served on the Institute of Medicine’s Roundtable on Population Health Improvement and the Healthy People 2030 advisory committee. Read more about her 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
- Read President Biden’s 2024 Proclamation on Women’s History Month
- Learn more about the theme of this year’s Women’s History Month: “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion”
