Legacy was the theme of the sixth annual PWH Leadership Summit.
By Rachel Bailey, Editor, PWH® Connect Journal
The Professional Women in Healthcare® (PWH) organization held its sixth annual PWH Leadership Summit in Louisville, Kentucky, April 29 – May 1, 2024. The PWH Leadership Summit is our industry’s only conference dedicated to inclusive leadership development. Derby City was a fitting place to honor the legacy of PWH and all the great organizations that have built our industry. Thanks to Summit sponsorship from 15 industry-leading organizations and for the generous support of 24 corporate partners, PWH brought together 270 industry leaders. Our dynamic program was curated by the PWH Leadership Summit Committee, led by April Shomper, Sr. Director, Events Strategy & Planning, Vizient. Thanks to their hard work, the event emboldened attendees to reflect on our leadership legacies, build connections and implement rituals for resilience as we continue to lead through change.
“Legacy is an imprint with impact,” said PWH Chair and Vice President, Innovia Corporate Sales, Allison Therwhanger, as she inspired attendees to be intentional about our “ripple effect.” Therwhanger also reminded us that this year marks the 20th anniversary of PWH. “The PWH mission is our legacy – creating an inclusive healthcare industry equally led by women and men. I want to thank all of you who continue to support PWH and our great industry.”
Vizient sponsored the event’s opening keynote speaker, Adam Markel, who explained that being resilient and adaptable to the changing environment means you don’t bounce back. Instead, challenges bounce you forward. To be resilient and adaptable, however, we must prevent fatigue and burnout with “recovery rituals” that sustain our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. What are your recovery rituals?
After the opening session, attendees enjoyed a reception before heading out for small group networking dinners at various restaurants in downtown Louisville. I had the pleasure of dining with several members of the PWH Cultural Diversity & Inclusion (CID) Committee, chaired by Enid Oquendo. Our dinner group included Joe Machicote, Chief Diversity Officer, Premier, who helped the PWH CID Committee recently complete a 32-page white paper entitled “Cultural Inclusion & Diversity in Healthcare: Shaping the Future of Leadership.” It provides foundational information about the state of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) within our industry and is available on the PWH website (www.mypwh.org/pwh-cultural-inclusion-diversity).
Day two of the Summit began with “Leadership Insights,” sponsored by Midmark. Five industry leaders elated attendees with unique 15-minute talks on leadership.
- Sharyn Ford, Strategist, Trainer & Coach, Strategic Visions International, reminded us that we are all still recovering from the pandemic world as we rebuild our lives. Her story urged us to strategically unplug regularly and build organizational capacity for resilience.
- Mark Zacur, CEO, Avantik, inspired us to learn from both effective (e.g., adaptable) and ineffective leaders. Our privilege to serve this great industry obligates us to instill passion in our teams to work and help people every day.
- Jessica Wells, Sr. Director, Customer Experience, Vizient, encouraged us to “tend” our legacy by first taking stock (looking behind, around, and clearing the clutter). Next, celebrate accomplishments before deciding how best to grow forward.
- Marisa Farabaugh, SVP/Chief Supply Chain Officer, AdventHealth, challenged us to engage lifelong learning and provided a three-step framework to bolster success: One: Learn something new. Two: Act on it. Three: Communicate and share it.
- Gary Corless, Advisor, Former CEO & Board Member, PSS World Medical, taught us how to multiply our growth by balancing strengths with their counterparts. Be both bold and humble; thoughtful and active; demanding and grateful.
The morning session ended with a presentation of PWH Awards. We congratulate the following outstanding industry members:
- Jessica Carney, Senior Specialist Member and Field Communications, Premier, received the 2024 Sandi Parker Leadership Scholarship with funding from Graham-Field.
- Andria Davis, Director, Supply Chain Operations, VCU Health, received the 2024 GHX Leadership Scholarship.
- Vicky Lyle, Vice President, Industry Association, Owens & Minor, received the 2024 Jana Quinn Inspirational Award.
- Sue Hulsmeyer, Chief People and Administrative Officer, Midmark Corporation received the 2024 Anne Eiting Klamar Leadership Award of Distinction.
After various breakout sessions ranging in topics from workplace identity to technology turbulence and communication skills development, B. Braun sponsored a “Fireside Chat.” PWH Corporate Partner Committee Chair Jen O’Reilly, who also serves as Vice President, OPM Corporate Accounts for B. Braun, facilitated a conversation on “Change: Obstacle or Opportunity.” Jim Brook, Sr. Vice President / General Manager, Vizient and Christine Arme, Sr. Vice President, MedSurg, Solventum shared some hot takes: “Clarity is knowing the path, not every step; Be curious, open-minded, respectful, and excited!”
GOJO, Makers of PURELL sponsored the final leadership panel on day three. Scott Adams, Publisher of Repertoire Magazine and Managing Partner of Share Moving Media, moderated the session entitled “Leaving Your Leadership Legacy.” Our panelists shared thoughts on legacy:
- Emily Wilburn Andrews, CEO, Wilburn Medical said, “At the end, it’s what stands and what lasts; You do not need to have it all together to be a mentor.”
- Meena Miller, Vice President and General Manager, OR Products Kits & Services, Owens & Minor said, “The sky is the limit. If you set your mind to it, then you can do it.”
- Diana LeFabvre, Executive Vice President, Medline said, “It’s the imprint of our values; There is a small amount of people we impact, and it may not be someone we have met.”
- Carrey Jaros, GOJO, Makers of Purell said, “There are little things we can do every day that add up to make a difference; Find a non-profit board to join. It will teach you and help you build a network.”
Again, the PWH mission is to create a more inclusive healthcare industry equally led by women and men. We hope you join us in this mission and in-person next year for more mentorship, education and networking. Save the date for the 2025 PWH Leadership Summit in Frisco, Texas, March 31 – April 2, 2025. Bring more colleagues and customers with you!
Photo captions:
The 2024 PWH Leadership Summit had a record turnout of 270 industry leaders, many of whom are pictured here during the event’s networking dinner held at the Louisville Palace Theatre.
PWH Chair and Vice President, Innovia Corporate Sales, Allison Therwhanger, inspired attendees to be intentional about our legacies as we serve this great industry.
Legacy was the theme of the sixth annual PWH Leadership Summit held April 29-May 1, 2024, in Derby City, a fitting place for the organization to also celebrate its legacy and its 20th anniversary.
The PWH Board is comprised of voluntary and active PWH members who also serve as members of the PWH Executive Committee, as Chairs or
Vice Chairs of the organization’s nine other committees, and as Board Advisors.