Third Annual PWH® Leadership Summit Delivers a Real Virtual Success

By Rachel Bailey, PWH® Connect editor

The Professional Women in Healthcare® (PWH®) organization held its third annual PWH® Leadership Summit, the

industry’s only conference dedicated to diverse and inclusive leadership development, on May 17-19, 2021. The all-virtual event was sponsored by 20 industry vendors and drew 267 attendees – a 33% increase from the live 2019 Summit. The current number of PWH® members is 615. Thanks to the success of this year’s Summit, membership has grown, including a 50% increase in the number of male PWH® members!

Midmark sponsored a general session leadership panel titled “Looking Back – Moving Forward” moderated by President and Publisher of Share Moving Media John Pritchard (center).

“I am so proud of this year’s Summit success,” said PWH® Chair and Vice President of Industry Associations at Owens & Minor Vicky Lyle. “Thanks to our Corporate Partners and Summit Sponsors, organizations that recognize the value PWH® brings to their organization and the industry, we were able to deliver another incredibly successful event. I’d especially like to thank the PWH® Summit Committee, led by Susan Kaiser, who also serves as Midmark’s media and communications manager. The Summit Committee worked hard to pivot from a live event to an exciting virtual show. Most of our sessions were live.”

The 2021 Summit kicked off with an array of virtual networking suites where attendees and new members could say hello to industry colleagues while learning and asking questions about PWH® featured resources designed for aspiring leaders, managers and c-suite executives.

A high-energy opening keynote session sponsored by Vizient featured AmyK Hutchens, speaker, author, trainer, and business strategist. Hutchens encouraged attendees to let go of resisting, judging, and attacking when communicating professionally and personally. She provided some handy conversation starters for addressing difficult subjects.

This year’s series of 15-minute PWH® Leadership Insights was sponsored by B. Braun. ʯ President and Chief Executive Officer of Moreland Accord Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chris Moreland explained the importance and dynamic workings of group care. ʯ Vice President, Healthcare Systems & Strategic Channels, 3M Medical Solutions Division, Christine Arme, encouraged attendees to remain aware of the energy and emotion around us, so we can better notice and thus not fear the signs of change. ʯ President of Henry Schein Medical Group, Brad Connett, explained that humanity is the central part of life, society and leadership.

Attendees enjoyed the first night’s virtual networking experience with three break-out room options to engage in Chats and Cheers.

ʯ Senior Vice President, Human

Resources, McKesson Medical-Surgical, Jennifer Anderson, described how to redefine boundaries with intention. ʯ Chief Commercial Officer of Enclara Pharmacia, Scott

Quilty, challenged attendees to be brave enough to move out of the way and let talented team members contribute their talent. ʯ During a talk titled “Mentoring Re-Imagined,” Principal

Category Manager, Mayo

Clinic Supply Chain Management, Lindsey Sheeran, and Sr.

Director, Supply Chain, Mayo

Clinic / AVP Supply Chain

Operations, Vizient, Nancy

Wobig, shared how mentoring is part of how they serve clients and succeed at work.

Other industry-specific programming included a leadership panel titled “Looking Back – Moving Forward,” moderated by President and Publisher of Share Moving Media, John Pritchard and sponsored by Midmark. Sales Director of Georgia Pacific, Great Lakes Market, Elizabeth Day-Curi; Vice President Human

Those who pre-registered received a thoughtfully arranged box of attendee gifts from Summit sponsors, all personally packaged by PWH® Board Advisee Julee Prefer and PWH® Executive Director Michelle Rydberg.

Resources & Corporate Communications of Midmark, Sue Hulsmeyer; Director of Distributor Relations, Metrex Research, Cris Pellegrino; and Vice President, Contract & Program Services of Vizient, Margaret Steele shared their biggest hurdles, risks, and creative maneuvers to manage their careers and gain advancement.

Breakout sessions featured other prominent industry leaders reflecting on challenges such as COVID and continually changing technology. Speakers and panelists included leaders from HIDA, Premier, McKesson Medical-Surgical, Concordance, Midmark, Owens & Minor, KBK Communications, Clinical Blockchain, and August Health.

Survey results from attendees suggest that per usual, PWH® delivered highly relevant, high energy, inspiring content about important issues facing our industry. Our “Cultural Inclusion: Walking the Talk” networking event was particularly appreciated. Thanks goes to PWH® Chair and Vice Chair of Cultural

PWH® Chair Vicky Lyle presented the 2021 Jana Quinn Inspirational Award to Creative Director of NDC and PWH® Marketing Chair, Natalie Martin. Natalie made sure her NDC® and PWH® teams stayed on task even while delivering her fourth child during COVID! The Anne Eiting Klamar Leadership Award of Distinction went to former Group Senior Vice President, Sourcing Analytics, Operations, and Center of Excellence of Vizient, Cathy Denning. Cathy just recently retired from Vizient but will continue to support PWH® as a board advisor.

Inclusion and Diversity Committee Dr. Danni Green and Enid Oquendo for hosting and encouraging an important conversation for our industry.

PWH® values all attendee survey responses. We stand committed to continuing discussions on important

Attendees from NDC got to enjoy the virtual PWH® Leadership Summit together.

topics including cultural sensitivity, diversity, equity and inclusion issues. Our programming will also continue to focus on life-work balance, career planning, mentoring, leadership development, strategic and interpersonal communication, presentation skills, industry education, supplier/provider partnerships, supply chain trends and lingering impacts of COVID. So, save the date for the 2022 PWH® Leadership Summit in Denver, Colorado, scheduled for May 16-18, 2022, at the Westin Westminster.

Newly appointed chair of the PWH® Summit Planning Committee and Event Director for Vizient April Shomper is thrilled for the planning to come. “I am beyond humbled and excited to lead the planning group for the 2022 PWH® Leadership Summit. Not only will it be back to normal and in-person, but we could not have picked a better location for the time of year. Denver is going to be awesome, so be sure to watch for details to come later this year.”