Mentorship and bold action drive these women to the forefront of Health IT leadership, as detailed in CHIME22.
In the rapidly evolving world of healthcare technology, the importance of mentorship for women's career advancement was a key topic at the 2022 CHIME Fall Forum.
Marya Ford, assistant vice president for clinical applications at MedStar Health, shared some startling statistics about the gender imbalance in IT roles. Women make up only 25% of those working in computer occupations and only 26% of IT employees. This disparity is a concern that many industry leaders are working to address.
One such leader is Theresa Meadows, CIO of Cook Children's Health Care System, who was named the CHIME CIO of the Year at the event. During her acceptance speech, Meadows noted that over half of the previous CHIME CIO of the Year winners had served as a mentor, role model, or supporter for her.
Meadows's experiences echoed those of other leaders who discussed women advancing in healthcare IT. They spoke of mentorship, career pivots, and opportunities that opened because someone believed in them.
Barbara Franta, executive director of digital applications and information solutions at UChicago Medicine, emphasized the importance of risk-taking for career advancement. She acknowledged that many women may face challenges due to family obligations, financial insecurity, or lack of self-confidence. Franta encouraged women to take calculated risks and seize opportunities.
Vandna Pandita, vice president of HEDIS Strategy and Analytics at payer AmeriHealth Caritas, can now sit at the table with business partners to discuss strategy, a testament to the power of mentorship. Pandita suggests finding a village of mentors, not just one, to provide a diverse range of perspectives and advice.
Mentorship has been critical to Andrea Daugherty's career growth. Daugherty, the interim CIO of the Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas, pivoted to healthcare IT after an opportunity for electronic medical records implementation.
Karla Arzola, IT director of Swedish Medical Center, highlighted her journey, starting from when she was born and raised in Mexico. Arzola stressed the importance of finding a mentor and seizing opportunities.
Sarah Richardson, senior vice president and chief digital and information officer at Tivity Health, spoke about moving multiple times for her career, taking big leaps of faith, and how remote work options can help working caregivers.
Helen Waters, Executive Vice President and COO at MEDITECH, states that IT has moved from a back office function to a strategic enabler of transformation. Waters suggests thinking of career advancement as a lattice, not a ladder, to account for non-linear growth.
A 2020 study found that women working in healthcare technology who had a mentor reported higher rates of job satisfaction. Positive mentor-mentee relationships that address potential gender disparities and include appropriate mentor training are essential for career fulfillment and satisfaction.
Fostering inclusive leadership and supportive workplace cultures—often facilitated through mentorship—has broader positive effects on leadership effectiveness and employee well-being, contributing to higher job satisfaction among women in healthcare-related fields.
In conclusion, mentorship plays a crucial role in enhancing job satisfaction for women in healthcare technology by addressing gender-specific challenges, supporting leadership development, and promoting a supportive, inclusive professional environment. The 2022 CHIME Fall Forum was a testament to the power of mentorship and the strides being made towards gender equality in the healthcare IT industry. The organisers of the CHIME League of Women session promised a bigger space for ViVE 2023 in Nashville in March, indicating the growing importance of this issue.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7337858/ [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6889626/ [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7021574/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6733405/ [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7220522/
- Mentorship is essential for career advancement in the healthcare technology field, particularly for women, as it helps address potential gender disparities and promotes job satisfaction.
- Leadership in healthcare technology, such as Marya Ford, Theresa Meadows, and Barbara Franta, emphasize the importance of mentorship, risk-taking, and self-confidence for women seeking to advance their careers.
- A diverse range of perspectives and advice is crucial for women's career success, as emphasized by Vandna Pandita's advice to find a 'village' of mentors.
- Mentorship can lead to increased opportunities and recognition, as evidenced by Amber Daugherty's pivot to healthcare IT and recognition as interim CIO, and Vandna Pandita's ability to sit at the table with business partners.
- Advancing in the areas of science, technology, education, business, finance, and lifestyle, particularly in healthcare, requires a supportive workplace culture, inclusive leadership, and effective mentorship, as highlighted by the 2022 CHIME Fall Forum and various studies.
