MYPWH.ORG • ISSUE 3 • FALL 2026
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN HEALTHCARE®
BREAKTHROUGH:
Highlights from the 2026 PWH Leadership Summit p.4-8
SAVE THE DATE: 2027 PWH® Leadership Summit Heads to Tempe, Arizona p.9
SUMMIT REFLECTION: The Conference that Keeps Teaching Me p.10
SUMMIT EDUCATION: Know How to Talk Business Finance p.12
LEADERSHP IN ACTION: PWH® Committees Work Hard to Support You! p.14
CONTENTS • FALL 2026 • ISSUE 3
PWH® Connect Journal Staff and Volunteers PWH® MARKETING COMMITTEE CHAIR Eryn Veronesi Business Development Manager, Marketing Sales and Services, NDC VICE CHAIR, PWH® DIGITAL MARKETING Jennifer Eiselein, Customer Experience, TIDI Products
EDITOR Rachel Bailey, PhD Penwan Communication Inc. rachel@penwancomm.com ART DIRECTOR Brent Cashman Graphic Designer, BOCdesign, Inc. brent@bocdesigninc.com
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR The Breakthrough Continues Pg. 3 BREAKTHROUGH Highlights from the 2026 PWH® Leadership Summit Pg. 4-8 SAVE THE DATE 2027 PWH® Leadership Summit Heads to Tempe, Arizona Pg. 9 SUMMIT REFLECTIONS The Conference that Keeps Teaching Me Pg. 10-11 SUMMIT EDUCATION Grow Revenue, Get Respect By Leveling Up Your Finance Talk Pg. 12-13 SUMMIT INSIGHTS Breakthrough with Data, Insights, and Confidence Pg. 14-15
2
LEADERSHIP IN ACTION PWH® Committees Work Hard to Support You! Pg. 16-18
EDITORIAL & CIRCULATION MANAGER Michelle Rydberg Executive Director, PWH® mrydberg@mypwh.org
RESEARCH ROUNDUP 2026 PWH Insights Paper: State of Professional Women in Healthcare Pg. 19 PWH® BOARD MEMBER RECOGNITION Pg. 20-21 HIDA UPDATE College Students Discover Impact of Healthcare Distribution Pg. 22-23 PWH® NEW MEMBERS Pg. 23 THANK YOU PWH® 2026 CORPORATE PARTNERS Pg. 24
PWH® MISSION & PURPOSE PWH® is an organization dedicated to ongoing professional leadership development in healthcare businesses. We are a member organization providing a national voice and progressive leadership for women in healthcare products manufacturing and delivery industries. Our goal is to reach all women in our industry and empower them in their personal and professional lives. We are also committed to integrated leadership development and gender equity for all individuals within the industries we serve. Vision – To create a culturally inclusive healthcare industry equally led by women.
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
The Breakthrough Continues As summer begins to wind down, I find myself reflecting on the experiences that have shaped this year, and especially on our 2026 PWH Leadership Summit. In May, 231 members and industry leaders gathered in West Palm Beach around one powerful theme: Breakthrough. For three days, we learned, connected, challenged our thinking, shared our stories, and reminded one another that leadership is not about perfection. It is about how we respond to the breaks, the challenges, and the unexpected turns in our lives. At the time, the energy in the room was unmistakable. But reading about the Summit in this issue reminded me that the true impact of an experience like this is not measured only by what happens while we are together. It is measured by what continues to happen after we return home. Nisha Savanhu’s reflection stopped me in my tracks. A month after the Summit, she reopened her notebook expecting simply to refresh her memory. Instead, she realized the Summit had continued teaching her.
The lessons she had written down were already changing how she communicated, listened, approached relationships, and led herself. Without consciously trying, she had become more curious than reactive, more aware of her own patterns, and more intentional in how she showed up. That is breakthrough. Speaking at the Summit, I shared that breakthrough rarely looks like victory in the moment. And sometimes the most meaningful breakthroughs are not the ones the world sees, but the ones that quietly change the way we see ourselves. This is why PWH matters. We create spaces for women to learn, connect, be seen, and become more confident in our own leadership. But the real measure of our impact is what happens next—when someone communicates differently with a colleague, finds the courage to take a new step, recognizes a pattern that no longer serves her, reaches back to help another woman, or begins to see her own story as a source of strength rather than something to hide.
Ashleigh McLaughlin
As summer gives way to a new season, I challenge you to revisit something that has inspired you this year. Return to your Summit notebook. Reflect on the webinar, mentoring conversation, or moment that made you pause. Ask yourself: What is still teaching me? What lesson have I already begun living? Where can I choose curiosity over assumption? And whose life might be changed because if I chose to share a little of my own gold? To everyone who made the 2026 Summit possible, our Leadership Summit Committee, Board, speakers, Summit Sponsors, Corporate Partners, volunteers, and attendees—thank you. I remain in awe of what this community accomplished and deeply grateful for the leadership and heart you bring to PWH throughout the year. With gratitude, Ashleigh McLaughlin Chair, PWH®, 2025-2026
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
3
SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
PWH 2026 Inspires Breakthroughs In case you couldn’t attend, please read this recap of the 2026 PWH Leadership Summit, featuring our motivational educational sessions, awards, and networking. By Jenna Hughes, Content Writer, Repertoire
The Professional Women in Healthcare® (PWH®) organization held its eighth annual PWH Leadership Summit in West Palm Beach, Florida, May 18 to May 20, 2026. With a theme of “Breakthrough,” the Summit attracted 231 attendees and benefitted from the support of 15 sponsors. The annual PWH Leadership Summit is the only conference in the healthcare supply chain industry dedicated to leadership development. For over 20 years, the Professional Women in Healthcare® (PWH®) organization has advanced its mission to create a culturally inclusive healthcare industry equally led by women and men.
The PWH Board consists of over 40 women who ensure the high-quality programming of not only the annual PWH Leadership Summit but also the organization’s year-round programming of mentoring, education, and networking.
4
Sessions offered attendees new perspectives on transformation and resilience in their professional careers, drawing on the concept of ‘Kintsugi’ – the Japanese art putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold lacquer – representing breaks as part of a stronger, more beautiful whole. The artform also inspired the “Breakthrough” theme of the 2026 PWH Leadership Summit. “It reminds us that our scars are not something to hide, but something to honor,” said Ashleigh McLaughlin, PWH Chair and Chief Financial Officer of IMCO, Inc. “Our leadership is not defined by perfection but by how we respond to the breaks, the challenges, and the unexpected turns. When we choose to lead with courage and authenticity, when we embrace both our strength and our story, we become stronger, wiser, and more impactful leaders.” Vizient sponsored the event’s opening keynote speaker, best-selling author and former Chief Storytelling Officer of SUCCESS Magazine, Kindra Hall. Presenting on insights from her book, “Stories That Stick,” Hall guided attendees on the strategic power of storytelling to captivate customers, influence behavior and transform business. During the opening session on day two, McLaughlin thanked all those who made the event possible. “PWH was built on a powerful foundation of women who believed in one another and created space for those who would come after them.
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
Because of that legacy, and the continued support of our Corporate Partners and Summit Sponsors, PWH can keep “breaking through.” The event’s signature session – the Leadership Insights series – featured five industry leaders delivering unique 15-minute TED-style talks on a variety of industry and leadership issues, sponsored by Midmark. Attendees heard messages from Karen Dutton, Sodexo; PWH Past Chair Vicky Lyle; and Kaycee Kaplin, Premier; Dr. Christina Brown, ECU Health, and Lindsay Walters, Solventum. Their messages encouraged attendees to lead with authenticity and intention and to appreciate that managing relationships, making people feel noticed, and building trust are not soft skills but critical. The Special Executive Leadership Roundtable, now an established annual opportunity for collaboration, invited C-Suite executives from PWH Corporate Partners to be part of a conversation intended to help shape the future leadership of the industry. Participants discussed strategies to recruit and retain talent during uncertain times, ways to maintain culture and morale through change, the role of leadership in fostering engagement and stability and practical approaches to build and support resilient teams. Vice President of Corporate Sales for Innovia Medical, Allison Therwhanger, Senior Learning Experience Designer(s) for Midmark, Lisa Ramsey & and Nickie Dixon, Chief Well-Being Officer & Program Manager, Dr. Christina Bowen & Amy Nelson, Provider Well-Being, Engagement & Retention, ECU Health, and Karen Dutton, Senior Director of Culture and Belonging Integration, Sodexo also shared stories during educational sessions on growing revenue, igniting the leader within,
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
PWH Chair Ashleigh McClaughlin (far left) and PWH Chair-Elect Natalie Martin (far right) helped to present the 2026 Anne Eiting Klamar Leadership Award of Distinction to Monica Davy (inside right) and the 2026 Jana Quinn Inspirational Award to Joe Machicote (inside left).
Performance Strategist Therese Gopaul-Robinson helped attendees fight a self-defeating habit that traps high-value expertise in low-value tasks.
The PWH Leadership Summit’s signature Leadership Insights series, sponsored by Midmark, featured messages from (left to right) Karen Dutton, Sodexo; PWH Past Chair Vicky Lyle; and Kaycee Kaplin, Premier; Dr. Christina Brown, ECU Health, and Lindsay Walters, Solventum. Their messages encouraged attendees to lead with authenticity and intention and that managing relationships, making people feel noticed, and building trust are not soft skills but critical.
5
SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
personal vision statements, mattering in the workplace and more. During the closing leadership panel, sponsored by B. Braun, leaders like Dave Myers, ASP Global; Maria Amoedo, Medline; Michelle Clouse, Cleveland Clinic, and David Gillan, Sodexo shared their own personal leadership “breakthroughs.” Special thanks to HIDA’s Julie Berry for moderating. After the event, PWH Chair Ashleigh McLaughlin thanked the team of PWH members who worked to organize and facilitate the 2026 Summit. “I am truly in awe of what our organization accomplished. Once again, so many lives were touched, encouraged, and inspired because of the leadership and the heart we put into the annual PWH Leadership Summit, and the way we show up for our PWH family.” The 2027 PWH Leadership Summit will be held April 12 to 14, 2027 in Tempe, Arizona. For more information visit www.mypwh.org.
During the closing leadership panel, sponsored by B. Braun, leaders like (left to right) Dave Myers, ASP Global; Maria Amoedo, Medline; Michelle Clouse, Cleveland Clinic and David Gillan, Sodexo shared their leadership “breakthroughs.” Thanks to HIDA’s Julie Berry for moderating.
The PWH Leadership Summit is our industry’s only conference focused on leadership development, and this year 15 sponsors supported the effort for 231 attendees.
6
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
PWH Chair Awards Each year, the PWH Chair recognizes two PWH active members for their outstanding contribution to the PWH organization. PWH Chair Ashleigh McGlaughlin (right) awarded the annual PWH Chair Award to PWH Professional Development Committee Chair Jessical Lucio who also serves as Lead Learning Partner for Vizient (left).
PWH Chair Ashleigh McGlaughlin (right) awarded the annual PWH Chair Award to PWH Leadership Summit Committee Chair Ashley Miller, who also serves as Senior Channel Distribution Manager for Medline (left).
Congratulations Monica Davy
Congratulations Joe Machicote
The Anne Eiting Klamar Leadership Award of Distinction recognizes a woman who is an active supporter of PWH® and who promotes PWH® within the industry. She is a woman who has experienced significant growth to become an accomplished leader (C-Suite), and a woman who Monica Davy, SVP and has catapulted her career, Chief Culture, Belonging scope of responsibility and and Impact Officer, Vizient professional development. She exudes confidence, integrity, and is well respected by the industry, her peers and her subordinates. She is committed to giving back and is a leader that others desire to follow and be mentored by. This award is in honor of Anne for her wisdom in recognizing the need for PWH®, her inspiration and determination to start the organization, and her leadership and mentorship to so many. Anne was the first Chair of PWH® and helped lay the groundwork for the development and continued success of the organization.
The Jana Quinn Inspirational Award honors the memory of our friend, Jana Quinn, PWH® founding member, mentor, and inspiration to all in the healthcare industry. This award recognizes an inspirational person in the healthcare industry, male or female, with qualities Joe Machicote, Founder that define their success and CEO, Transformational not only professionally, Leadership Solutions Group but throughout life. The recipient will encompass the qualities that were an inherent part of Jana. She was a mentor, role model, leader, family focused, encouraging, accepting, a loyal friend, a person not afraid to struggle, and so much more. Jana’s combination of endearing qualities drew others in and made them better just by knowing her. Recipients embody the qualities that were an inherent part of Jana: energizing, inspiring, family focused, friend, mentor, role model and respected servant leader.
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
7
SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS
2026 Leadership Summit Scholarship Winners PWH® is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 scholarship awards, recognizing outstanding individuals whose leadership, dedication, and impact continue to inspire the healthcare industry. Through honors including the Elise Tordella Leadership Summit Scholarships, the Sandra Parker Leadership Scholarship, and the GHX Leadership Scholarship, PWH celebrates those who are helping shape the future of healthcare. Scholarship winners receive a 1-year complimentary PWH membership as well as airfare, hotel and registration for the Leadership Summit. Elise Tordella Leadership Summit Scholarships In honor of Elise Tordella, sponsored by Solventum, this PWH Leadership Summit Scholarship supports five professional women pursuing education that advances their careers in healthcare, strengthens leadership representation, and improves system outcomes across the healthcare ecosystem.
Michele Rodriguez, Revenue Cycle Manager, Byram Healthcare, an Accendra Health Brand, Shrishti Kharel, MBA, General Manager-2, Apria, an Accendra Health Brand, Shantel Hubbard, Strategic Account Executive DSO, Spectrum Killian, Tara White, Global Market Development, Solventum, Yesenia Banks, CPC, Sr. Manager, Reimbursement and Health Policy, Solventum
Sandra Parker Leadership Scholarship Sandi’s impact on the healthcare industry was remarkable, but one of her proudest accomplishments was helping build Professional Women in Healthcare into a community dedicated to leadership, mentorship, and growth. As one of PWH’s 17 founding members and its third chairwoman, she helped shape an organization that now supports more than 700 members.
Jean Garcia, Senior Project Manager, McKesson
8
GHX Leadership Scholarship With generous funding from GHX, Professional Women in Healthcare (PWH®) is proud to announce this year’s Leadership Summit Scholarship recipient. Awarded to a woman working for a healthcare provider organization, this scholarship supports professional growth while helping expand the PWH network across the healthcare continuum.
Deborah Avalos, Director Procurement Services, Northwestern Medicine
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
2027 PWH® Leadership Summit is headed to Tempe, Arizona! April 12 - April 14, 2027
Save the Date! Great leadership starts with a single idea, a meaningful conversation, or the courage to take the first step. Through dynamic discussions, authentic connections, and shared learning, the 2027 PWH Leadership Summit will empower healthcare leaders to spark meaningful change in their organizations, communities, and careers. Set against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, attendees will connect with peers, gain fresh perspectives, and build relationships that inspire lasting impact. Join PWH for an experience that will equip you to lead with purpose and turn today’s conversations into tomorrow’s progress.
Open to Women & Men From All Career Levels, Aspiring Leaders to C-Suite Executives Gain actionable takeaways through our PWH Leadership Insights (TED-style talks), empowering keynote speakers, engaging panel discussions, workshops & breakout sessions that cover a host of topics around pressing leadership issues.
20 27
Registration Starting this Fall! Learn more at mypwh.org
SUMMIT REFLECTION
The Conference that Keeps Teaching Me PWH Cultural Inclusion & Diversity (CID) Committee member Nisha Savanhu reflects on the 2026 PWH Leadership Summit. Here she shares some of the profound insights she captured when looking back through her Summit notebook.
By Nisha Jacob Savanhu, MD., MBA., PWH CID Committee Member and Clinical Solutions Manager at GF Health Products, Inc.
10
During a PWH Cultural Inclusion & Diversity (CID) Committee meeting in mid-June, someone asked a simple question: “What did you take away from the Leadership Summit?” When the meeting ended, I pulled my Summit notebook off the shelf to refresh my memory. What happened next surprised me. I had attended the PWH Leadership Summit in May, and I expected to come back with ideas I could apply at work. I filled pages of my notebook with leadership concepts, communication strategies, and personal reflections, then placed the notebook on my shelf when I returned home. But it wasn’t until I looked back through the notes I took at the Summit a month later that I realized how profoundly sessions at the Summit affected me. As I flipped through the pages, I realized the conference had been teaching me long after it ended. Perhaps the biggest impression came from the session where we learned about DISC communication styles because it was the first thing that came to mind. That presentation completely changed how I approach conversations. Understanding that people communicate differently—and that we don’t need to change who we are, but rather how we communicate with different people—has helped me in meetings, customer interactions, and even in my personal relationships. Another session challenged us to recognize patterns—not just in others, but in ourselves. Another encouraged us to “become the author” of our own story. Still, another focused on authentic leadership and how we need to lead ourselves before leading others. And another reminded us that people thrive when they feel seen and that understanding matters more than simply being heard. I had forgotten many of those sessions. But what surprised me most when reviewing my notes was realizing that I had already begun living these leadership insights. Without consciously thinking about it,
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
I had started paying attention to communication styles instead of assuming everyone thinks the way I do. I found myself becoming more curious than reactive. I began asking different questions—not only about the people around me, but about myself: > Why do I respond this way? > What patterns have helped me grow? > Which habits still serve me, and which no longer do? These questions found their way into my work, my relationships, and even my writing. One page in my notebook simply says: “We own our story so we can be aware of our patterns.” At the time, I wrote it down because it sounded meaningful. Months later, I realized I had begun doing exactly that. I had I already started writing more intentionally, reconnecting
with different personalities. I’ve become more aware that curiosity often creates better conversations than assumptions. These lessons have influenced my work as a Clinical Solutions Manager, my interactions with customers and colleagues, and my personal life in ways I never expected. Sometimes we attend conferences expecting to learn something new. Sometimes the real lesson doesn’t appear until months later. For me, the PWH Leadership Summit wasn’t just three days of professional development. It became an invitation to become more self-aware, more intentional, and more authentic. Looking back, I realized the conference wasn’t simply teaching leadership. It was
Sometimes we attend conferences expecting to learn something new. Sometimes the real lesson doesn’t appear until months later. For me, the PWH Leadership Summit wasn’t just three days of professional development. with people from different seasons of my life, asking former classmates what they remembered about me, and reflecting on how our experiences shape us—not to stay in the past, but to better understand the future. The Summit also reminded me that leadership isn’t only about leading teams. It’s also about leading ourselves first. I’ve become more intentional about listening before responding. I’ve learned to adapt my communication to connect
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
quietly helping me write the next chapter of my own story. I don’t think leadership always changes us in a single moment. Sometimes it leaves us with ideas that quietly grow over time. Looking back through my notebook, I realized that some of my biggest takeaways weren’t the ones I remembered immediately— they were the ones that slowly became part of how I live, communicate, and lead. For that, I’m incredibly grateful to PWH for creating spaces where learning continues long after the conference ends.
11
SUMMIT EDUCATION
Grow Revenue and Get Respect By Leveling Up Your Finance Talk To gain credibility with finance leaders, you must understand the main Financial Scorecards: Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and various Types of Profit. Know what builds credibility and loses it. Clearly state your customers’ needs and performance, and answer questions BEFORE the finance team asks them! Sales and marketing professionals are often measured by growth—revenue generated, customers acquired, campaigns launched, and quotas achieved. Finance professionals, on the other hand, are measured by profitability, cash flow, resource allocation, and risk management. While these perspectives may seem different, they are ultimately focused on the same goal: building a healthy, growing business. One of the biggest career advantages that a sales or marketing leader can develop is financial fluency. Leaders who understand the financial implications of their decisions communicate more effectively with executive leadership, make stronger business cases, forecast more accurately, and gain greater credibility throughout the organization. Remember, finance is not a gatekeeper standing in the way of growth. At its best, finance is a strategic partner that helps organizations invest wisely, scale sustainably, and maximize long-term value.
Why Financial Fluency Matters Many sales and marketing professionals avoid financial discussions because they believe finance is someone else’s responsibility. Unfortunately, this often limits their influence within the executive team. Leaders who understand the language of finance move beyond advocating for ideas—they support those ideas with data. Further, managers who consistently understand their numbers are better positioned to control outcomes rather than simply react to them.
Understanding the Financial Scorecard Every business measures performance through several interconnected financial statements.
12
This article summarizes concepts shared by PWH Treasurer and Past Chair Allison Therwhanger during her session at the 2026 PWH Leadership Summit. Allison also serves as Vice President of Corporate Sales for Innovia Medical.
Understanding how they work helps sales and marketing professionals appreciate how their daily decisions affect company performance. Indeed, every pricing decision, promotional campaign, customer acquisition effort, and sales discount ultimately influences profitability. For example, growing revenue is valuable, but profitable growth is what creates long-term business success. Revenue growth without healthy margins may not create meaningful business value. At the same time, winning business from customers who pay slowly—or not at all—can negatively affect company performance despite strong sales numbers. Income Statement The income statement measures profitability by showing: > Revenue > Operating expenses > Cost of goods sold > Operating income > Gross profit > Net income Balance Sheet Unlike the income statement, which measures performance over time, the balance sheet reflects financial health at a specific moment. The balance sheet provides a snapshot of what the company owns and owes. It includes: > Cash > Long-term assets > Accounts receivable > Liabilities > Inventory > Shareholder equity Cash Flow A profitable company can still struggle if cash flow is weak. Cash flow measures whether the business has enough cash available to operate day-to-day while continuing to invest in future growth.
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
Working Capital Working capital—the difference between current assets and current liabilities—is another critical measure of organizational health. Sales and marketing decisions influence working capital more than many professionals realize. Understand how Sales and Marketing influence financial performance because every commercial decision affects financial results. Revenue Sales and marketing leaders directly influence revenue through: > Pricing decisions > Product mix > Customer mix > Customer retention > Forecast accuracy > Pipeline quality Profit Margins Similarly, profit margins are influenced by: > Discounts > Promotional spending > Freight costs > Contract terms > Product mix
the financial performance of every major initiative. This includes: > Trade show investments > Product launches > Cost per opportunity > Customer conversion rates > Customer adoption > Return on marketing investments What Damages Credibility Credibility is built slowly but lost quickly. Remember, executives expect transparency—not perfection. Problems become manageable when communicated early with supporting analysis. Common behaviors that reduce confidence include: > Sharing only positive news > Overstating pipeline value > Ignoring slipped deals > Poor forecasting > Weak sales mathematics > Failing to use CRM and business intelligence tools
Build Credibility Through Better Forecasting Every forecast should include the “why” behind the numbers. Executive teams value forecasts they can trust. But strong forecasting requires more than optimism. It requires: > Accurate timing > Weighted pipelines > Trend analysis > Realistic deal probabilities > Clear explanations behind assumptions Know Your Programs Marketing leaders should understand
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
> Not tracking marketing ROI > Lacking confidence in presented numbers Use Data to Explain Market Changes Investigate performance before drawing conclusions. For example, declining sales may not automatically indicate pricing problems. Market research may reveal: > Competitors have changed pricing structures. > Group purchasing organization (GPO) contracts have shifted. > Procedure volumes have declined. > Customer purchasing patterns have changed. Finance, sales, and marketing all contribute to organizational success, but each function measures success differently. When sales and marketing professionals develop financial fluency, they become stronger business leaders.
Communicate Like an Executive Strong executive communication combines numbers with context. It also demonstrates analysis, accountability, and strategic thinking. Instead of saying: “Sales were strong this month.” Say: “Sales increased 13.4% year over year for Customer X, driven primarily by new Product Y. The new business is expected to generate approximately $100,000 in annual recurring revenue.” Instead of saying: “We’re over budget.” Say: “Marketing expenses exceeded budget by $85,000 due to an additional trade show investment. Advertising and promotional spending will be reduced by the same amount next month, resulting in no net impact on third-quarter expenses.” Instead of saying: “We’re backordered.” Say: “Product X is currently backordered, delaying approximately $100,000 in revenue recognition until August. Production has confirmed delivery timing, and customer communication is underway to minimize competitive losses.”
13
SUMMIT INSIGHTS
Breakthrough with Data, Insights, and Confidence Insights from the 2026 PWH Leadership Summit and the 2026 PWH Insights Paper: State of Professional Women in Healthcare can help you better navigate change, feel confident, and aim high. Feeling confident or holding “an enriched frame of mind” helps professional women in healthcare measure success in their current role.* But so much can challenge our confidence, like changes driven by workplace trends. PWH offers resources and programming to help you feel more confident by providing data and helpful direction. The 2026 PWH Insights Paper: State of Professional Women in Healthcare identifies four themes driving leadership challenges: 1) rapid digital transformation; 2) organizational change and uncertainty; 3) hybrid work environments; and 4) gaps in leadership development and employee support. The 2026 PWH Insights Paper also identifies conditions that can help, while PWH programing, including our annual PWH Leadership Summit aims to help industry leaders navigate change, prioritize, and optimize communication. According to Valera Wilson, Global Speaker, Author and Leadership Development Consultant, “braving change is THE strategic choice.” A speaker at the 2026 PWH Leadership Summit, Valera outlined four certainties of change and explained how to deal with them. Four Certainties of Change 1. Uncertainty is a Certainty of Change But, when we anchor ourselves in our purpose and our values—when we let
14
them serve as our “North Star”—we lend clarity to uncertainty. Our values and our purpose give uncertainty a framework within which to make decisions and act. 2. Resistance is a Certainty of Change This is why we need to treat resistance as data not defiance. Analyzing resistance, rather than getting distracted by it, can help us identify gaps in resources and our own blind spots. So, dig in, ask questions, listen with intention, and take action to address points of resistance rather than avoid them.
3. Confusion is a Certainty of Change In new systems and new processes, tactical details are not yet ironed out. Teams can be misaligned, and communication gaps can foster challenges. You can “illuminate the path— where you are and where you’d like to go”—to increase clarity and commitment. Developing and sharing a “change narrative” can also help. Such narratives acknowledge the past, what was working well and what wasn’t. They highlight connections between the past and new, current demands. Finally, they share future promises and the path forward with specific stories and examples.
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
4. Missteps are a Certainty of Change This is why “failure is not final.” Instead, we learn, adjust, and keep moving forward. Prioritizing learning over perfection helps us engage creativity and diminish fear. Wilson challenged us to imagine: “What decision would we make if we weren’t afraid of failing!” During the 2026 PWH Leadership Summit, Leadership Insights speakers also offered sage advice on how to enhance our confidence to breakthrough by better navigating change, growing, and reaching our career goals. Lindsay Walters, Vice President, Restorative Healing Technologies, Solventum, MedSurg, encouraged attendees to “lead with the story only you have lived.” Even the parts that you fear are a liability may be your strongest asset. Trust that your unique perspective is valuable and gain your confidence by embracing diversity of thought.
Dr. Christina Bowen, Chief Well-Beig Officer, ECU Health, explained how “reclaiming our narrative opens the door to deeper clarity, alignment, and wholeness.” She also warned that sometimes, the story that helps us be compassionate to others, may keep us from being passionate to ourselves. So be mindful of that! Vidky Lyle, Owner, Coach Lyle, reminded us that our network is our net worth. She offered many helpful tips for growing our networks. For example, ask open ended questions, listen carefully, and take notes so that when you follow up with new contacts in a timely manner you can customize your communication and deepen the relationship.
Karen Dutton, Senior Director of Culture and Belonging Integration, Sodexo, helped us appreciate why mattering matters and clarified that mattering is being noticed, feeling valued, and feeling significant. Therefore, to be good leaders, we must let people know that we notice and see them. Know that managing relationships is not a soft skill, but critical! Kaycee Kaplin, CMO, Premier, shared how to create a personal brand that feels energizing, authentic, and aligned with our purpose. Referencing several helpful sources, she encouraged us to have the courage to be disliked and know that trust grows when honoring commitments costs you something. Remember, confidence comes from embracing your unique perspective, anchoring in values, treating challenges as learning opportunities, building meaningful relationships, and navigating change with intention by expecting its key challenges. For more inspiration, save the date for the 2027 PWH Leadership Summit in Tempe, Arizona April 12-14, 2027. For more insights about challenges professional women in health care face and how to manage them, check out the 2026 PWH Insights Paper: State of Professional Women in Healthcare. www.mypwh.org/2026-pwh-insights-paper.
*This insight appears on page 11 of the PWH 2026 Insights Paper: State of Professional Women in Healthcare.
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
15
LEADERSHIP IN ACTION
Leadership in Action PWH® Committees Produce PWH® Programming and Resources. Here’s the latest… Driving PWH® Strategy Spotlight on Strategic Oversight Committee The Strategic Oversight Committee (SOC) is chaired by Past PWH Chair, Vicky Lyle of Coach Lyle. This PWH committee provides strategic oversight for the PWH organization. Active members of the SOC are helping to ensure PWH delivers value to our members and the industry. Active Member Rea Owens-Beverly, Sourcing Director, Excelerate, Vizient, collaborates with cross-functional leaders to help shape strategic priorities and advance initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness and member value. She recently contributed to a project focused on identifying and collecting data on potential partner organizations for PWH, helping to build a foundation for future strategic collaborations. Her work on the committee also includes supporting initiative evaluation, prioritization, and alignment across stakeholders to drive successful execution.
16
Vice Chair of Organizational Leadership Development, Karen Orso is Senior Director of Communications for Apexus, a subsidiary of Vizient. Karen has led initiatives that strengthen the leadership pipeline and PWH organizational continuity, including enhancing succession planning for board and committee leadership. She recently advanced the Individual Development Plan (IDP) process, transitioning it to an annual cycle and implementing electronic submission, and has enhanced the 9-box evaluation process to better assess and develop board members and volunteers.
Vice Chair of Strategy Management, Amy Swift, Contract Analyst, McKesson, partners with the executive board and committee leaders to align initiatives, strengthen governance, and ensure PWH strategy translates into meaningful impact for our members. Beyond strategic planning, she’s taken initiative to document key processes— such as strategy, budgeting and bylaws review—to support continuity, shared understanding, and long‑term resilience.
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
2 New Fall Courses Professional Development Committee in Action Course 1: Optimizing Outcomes Through Better Decision Making October 16, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
Course 2: Designing and Facilitating Effective Hybrid Meetings November 6, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
Facilitator: Michael Delis, Senior Trainer and Consultant, Corporate Education Group
Facilitator: Lisa Cox, Trainer, Coach, Consultant, Corporate Education Group
Strengthen your decision-making skills in this interactive PWH course designed to help professionals recognize cognitive biases, separate facts from perceptions, and make more strategic choices with confidence. Participants will explore practical tools and a four-step framework they can apply directly in their work setting to improve the quality and consistency of their decisions. Register soon—space is limited. Learn more and register.
Sharpen your skills for leading productive hybrid and virtual meetings in this interactive PWH course. You’ll learn practical strategies to boost engagement, manage meeting dynamics, and guide conversations toward clear outcomes and follow-through. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your hybrid meeting skills. Learn more and register.
Welcome New PWH Corporate Parters Corporate Partner Committee in Action The PWH Corporate Partner Committee is excited to welcome our newest PWH Corporate Partners. Coming in at the Diamond level is Solventum. A new healthcare company with a rich history, Solventum creates innovative products and services that touch millions of lives, transform the patient experience and save time for healthcare professionals. Coming in at the Ruby Level are BD, Concordance Healthcare Solutions, and Sagamore. BD is one of the world’s largest pure-play medical technology companies with a Purpose of advancing the world of health ™ by driving innovation across
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
medical essentials, connected care, biopharma systems and interventional. Concordance provides the technology and solutions that support the logistics, contracts and processes behind the quality medical supplies and healthcare equipment providers need. Focusing on medical sales, access, and results, Sagamore assists medical device, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical equipment and medical technology companies to increase the effectiveness and lower the costs of their sales efforts. Learn about PWH Corporate Partnership.
17
LEADERSHIP IN ACTION
New Blog Series – Leadership Conversations Cultural Inclusion & Diversity Committee in Action Over the past several months, Cultural Inclusion & Diversity Committee conversations have surfaced important themes around leadership, navigating change, maintaining personal values, and supporting one another through challenging situations. CID Chair Sabrina Smith has captured some of these insights and translated them into content that can benefit members who may be experiencing similar circumstances. Articles in this series provide relatable, real-world perspectives that can resonate with members and offer meaningful support The first article of the CID Leadership Conversations series is “Stay the Course: Leadership Lessons for Times of Uncertainty.” Read the latest.
New Insights Paper State of Professional Women in Healthcare Cultural Inclusion & Diversity Committee in Action The 2026 PWH Insights Paper: State of Professional Women in Healthcare highlights and analyzes workforce trends, challenges, and opportunities facing Professional Women in Healthcare and their RESEARCH employers. The paper INSIGHTS ACTION represents PWH Committee collaboration in action. Its content was developed primarily by the Cultural Inclusion & Diversity Committee but draws in data available through the 2025 PWH Annual Member Survey, managed by the PWH Membership Committee, and other information produced by leading research organizations. The PWH Marketing Committee has guided the paper’s design to help fast-moving industry executives quickly understand the experiences, challenges, and opportunities shaping women’s leadership in healthcare. Get your copy www.mypwh.org/-2026-pwh-insights-paper. ®
State of Professional Women in Healthcare
The 2026 PWH® Insights Paper highlights and analyzes workforce trends, challenges, and opportunities facing Professional Women in Healthcare and their employers.
Save the Date 2027 PWH® Leadership Summit Leadership Summit Committee in Action The spark starts in Tempe. The 2027 PWH Leadership Summit will be held April 12-14, 2027 at the Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU. Thank you to everyone who joined us this year! We look forward to welcoming you to next year’s summit. Visit mypwh.org for updates.
Stronger Together
PWH® CULTURAL INCLUSION & DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
© AUGUST 15, 2026
18
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
State of Professional Women in Healthcare
What’s Inside:
The 2026 PWH® Insights Paper highlights and analyzes workforce trends, challenges, and opportunities facing Professional Women in Healthcare and their employers.
Our comprehensive insights are organized into three key sections designed to inform, inspire, and drive meaningful change. RESEARCH INSIGHTS ACTION Stronger Together PWH® CULTURAL INCLUSION & DIVERSITY COMMITTEE © AUGUST 15, 2026
1
2
3
The first section examines how PWH members perceive their career progression, leadership development, workplace
The second section identifies the 12 most common leadership challenges reported by PWH members
The third section examines research from McKinsey & Company, Lean-In, the Pew Research Center, Catalyst, and the IZA Institute of Labor Economics to better
belonging, organizational support, and the value of PWH programming and resources.
and examines the workplace conditions contributing to those challenges.
understand the systemic, cultural, organizational, and economic factors that influence women’s leadership outcomes.
GET YOUR COPY TODAY!
Visit www.mypwh.org/-2026-pwh-insights-paper or scan QR code to download your copy today!
BOARD MEMBER RECOGNITION
PWH ® EXECUTIVE BOARD, 2026 ASHLEIGH MCLAUGHLIN Chair IMCO, Inc. Chief Financial Officer
ASHLEY MILLER
Leadership Summit Committee Chair Medline Channel Distribution Manager
ERYN VERONESI ALLISON THERWHANGER
Past Chair and Treasurer Innovia Medical Vice President, Innovia Corporate Sales
Marketing Committee Chair NDC, Inc. Business Development Manager, Marketing Sales & Service
MISSY SIMONS NATALIE MARTIN
Chair Elect NDC, Inc. Vice President, Supplier Management
LAURA RELINE
Secretary NDC, Inc. Vice President, Supplier Management
Membership Committee Chair Midmark Corporate Account Executive
SHELLENE BAINES
Mentoring Committee Chair McKesson Director Business Process
JESSICA LUCIO
Professional Development Committee Chair Vizient Sr. Director, Business Learning
JENNIFER O’REILLY
Corporate Partners Committee Chair B. Braun Medical Vice President, National Accounts
VICKY LYLE
SABRINA SMITH
MEGAN QUEVEDO
Cultural Inclusion & Diversity Committee Chair Staritas Associate Director, Downstream Marketing
20
Strategic Oversight Committee Chair Coach Lyle, LLC Founder and Coach
Technology Committee Chair Syneos Health Manager, Commercial Quality Excellence
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
PWH ® ADVISORY BOARD, 2018 CATHY DENNING
PWH® Board Advisor Vizient Senior Vice President, Sourcing Operations
PWH ® LEADERSHIP ROSTER, 2018 STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Suzanne Lord, Strategic Oversight Chair Sue Hulsmeyer, Vice Chair Organizational Leadership Development®
PWH ADVISORY BOARD, 2026 ®
JULEE PREFER
JANIS DEZSO Board Advisor
PWH® Board Advisor
Preferred Solutions, Inc.
Bovie Medical President Vice President of Sales
PWH LEADERSHIP ROSTER, 2026
Natalie Martin, Vice Chair Marketing Strategy & Brand Guidelines
CORPORATE PARTNER COMMITTEE
Amy Swift, Vice Chair Committee Liaison
Jennifer O’Reilly, Chair Jennifer Ramthun, Vice Chair Partner Optimization MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Katie Educate, Vice Chair Distribution & Manufacturer Engagement Odra Anderson, Membership Committee Chair Erica Smith, Vice Chair Healthcare Provider Engagement Ashleigh McLaughlin, Vice Chair Member Engagement
JOAN ELIASEK
PWH® Board Advisor McKesson President, Board Advisor Extended Care Sales
JOAN ELIASEK
McKesson Medical-Surgical President, SHARYL GARDNER McKesson Canada PWH® Board Advisor Midmark Corporation
Shannon Trahan, Vice Chair Market Intelligence
CULTURAL INCLUSION & DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
Eryn Marx, Vice Chair PR & Marketing
Sabrina Smith, Chair Ashlee Rose Perez-Gerrie, Vice Chair of Content & Communication REGIONAL CONNECTIONS COMMITTEE Rachel Bailey, Vice Chair of of Education & Research - Special Projects Heather Davis, Regional Connections Committee Chair Geri Lamano, Vice Chair Regional Events
MARKETING COMMITTEE
OPEN, Vice Chair PDC Liason
Eryn Veronesi, Chair Deandra Vigliarolo, Vice Chair of Summit Marketing CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE Jennifer Eiselein, Vice Chair Digital Marketing Elizabeth Day-Curi, Corporate Partners Committee Chair OPEN, Vice Chair Marketing Projects Jennifer Ramthun, Vice Chair Strategic Partners Meghan Butera, Vice Chair of Brand Strategy Jennifer O’Reilly, Vice Chair Sales Distribution
CINDY JUHAS
Laura Reline, Vice Chair Sales Manufacturing
PWH Board Advisor
Carmel Veron,Missy Vice Chair Sales GPO Simons, Chair
CINDY JUHAS Board Ambassador ®
CME Chief Strategy Officer
CME
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Suzy Carlino, Vice Chair PR & Marketing Tressina Cisneros, Vice Chair New Member Engagement
Geri Lamano, Vice Chair Networking Events
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Amy Nelson, Vice ChairCOMMITTEE New Member Recruitment & Onboarding Susan Kaiser, Professional Development Committee Chair
ANNE EITING KLAMAR PWH® Board Advisor
MENTORING COMMITTEE
Enid Oquendo, Vice Chair Summit Programming Tania Steinbruegge, ViceBaines, Chair Webinars Shellene Chair
OPEN, Vice Chair Education & Innovation Jamie Terran, Vice Chair Group Mentoring & Mentee Support ANNE EITING KLAMAR, M.D.
Midmark Corporation Chair, Board of Directors
Board Advisor Midmark Corporation Chair, Board of Directors
PAMELA WEDOW
PWH® Board Advisor
Kristin Paffendorf, Vice Chair Recruiting & Mentor Support
MENTORING COMMITTEE Maria Moeller, Vice Chair Individual Mentoring Vicky Lyle, Mentoring Committee Chair
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Susan Hunter-Vinson, Vice Chair Individual Mentoring Jen Nicholson,Jessica Vice Chair GroupChair Mentoring Lucio,
Shelley Bache,Cydney Vice Chair PR & Marketing Smith, Vice Chair Webinars
Lisa Ramsey, Vice Chair Education & Innovation
HEATHER LLORCA-KROPP Board Advisor DUKAL Corporation Vice President, Marketing & Channel Management
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT COMMITTEE
Ashley Miller, Chair Michelle Clouse, Vice Chair Content Holly Smith, Vice Chair Summit Event Coordination Deandra Vigliarolo, Marketing Liaison
STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE JANIS DEZSO
Board Advisor J. Dez Strategies, Inc Principle/Founder
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
Vicky Lyle, Chair Amy Swift, Vice Chair Committee Liaison Karen Orso, Vice Chair Organizational Leadership Development
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
Megan Quevedo, Chair Martha Braxton, Vice Chair Technology Initiatives Zandra Joseph, Vice Chair Technology Implementation
21
HEALTH INDUSTRY DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
When Policymakers Listen and Lead: Two Congressional Voices at Washington Summit The best conversations at the Washington Summit happen when lawmakers step into the room and engage directly with the healthcare supply chain leaders they represent. This year, members of the Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA) visiting Washington, DC heard from two members of Congress whose work touches the issues facing healthcare distribution and manufacturing. By Kathryn DiBitetto, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks Vice President, (R-Iowa) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis Government Affairs, (R-New York) addressed attendees during HIDA the 2026 Washington Summit, offering insights into how policymakers are thinking about preparedness, trade, and supply chain resilience. A physician, veteran, and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Miller-Meeks focused on the importance of public health readiness and emergency preparedness. She discussed opportunities to strengthen coordination with state stockpiles and improve how critical medical supplies are
Rep Mariannette Miller-Meeks
22
Rep Nicole Malliotakis
managed before, during, and after a public health emergency. Her message reinforced a theme familiar to HIDA members: resilience requires planning before a crisis strikes. Rep. Malliotakis, who sits on the influential Ways and Means Committee, highlighted the role of trusted trade partnerships in creating a stronger healthcare supply chain. She is a lead sponsor of the Medical Supply Chain Resilience Act, a bipartisan bill designed to encourage sourcing diversification and strengthen access to essential medical products through strategic partnerships with trusted allies. Rep. Malliotakis was glad that HIDA members shared their support for the Medical Supply Chain Resilience Act during their hill meetings earlier that day and HIDA continues to work with her team to support the bill following our member meetings. In an environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, her message resonated with attendees looking for practical solutions that improve resilience without compromising patient access. The Washington Summit creates opportunities not only for HIDA members to educate policymakers, but for policymakers to hear directly from the people who keep the medical supply chain moving every day.
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
PWH® NEW MEMBERS
New members as of July 28, 2026 Kayley Adamczewski
Chrissy Cullinan
Yurixhi Granados
Kennedy Malick
STERIS
Drive Medical
Solventum
STERIS
Odalys Rodriguez Solventum
Allie Ahern
Kendall Daugherty
Katie Grieshop
Julie Marshall
Rachel Rosenthal
Drive Medical
MTMC
Midmark
GHX
Drive Medical
Julie Aljamal
Shaneka Demps
Sarah Gross
Molly McCann
Maria Roy
Sekisui
BayCare Health System
Avanos
Drive Medical
Krista Babyak
Molly Deorsay
Shea Hall
Patricia McCauley
MTMC
Solventum
Owens & Minor
Nexera
Yesenia Banks
Rebecca Doran
Ann-Sophie Hartlapp
Susan McCully
Solventum
Drive Medical
Solventum
B. Braun Medical
Angela Patricia Bejarano
Tracey Dunmyer
Angela Hermanson
Kim McHale
Solventum
Drive Medical
Solventum
Dukal, LLC
Neelu Boddipalli
Charlotte Dunn
Julia Hu
Autumn McLeod
Solventum
MTMC
Solventum
Medegen Medical
Erin Bourdeau
Julie Fadel
Shantel Hubbard
Donna Mehrabi
Solventum
Sekisui
Spectrum Killian
Drive Medical
Tiffany Brady
Tara Florek
Jessica Janda
Lauren Meyer
Vizient, Inc.
Solventum
Solventum
Drive Medical
Jennifer Brickler
Emilie Franczyk
Manisha Jassal
Brook Midgley
Midmark
Solventum
Solventum
MTMC
Olivia Bridges
Stacy Frayseth
Jacqueline Jelly
Lillian Moore
Dove Medical Supply LLC
Solventum
Solventum
Midmark
Tracy Brown
Leslie Frazier
Lauren Kiehna
Corynn Myres
Vizient, Inc.
Solventum
Dragonfly Health
GHX
Pamela Cain
Celia Furukawa
Christina Kolles
Beth Nelson
Solventum
Solventum
Solventum
Solventum
Kelli Christman
Lydia Galarza
Danielle Lambert
Bonnie Nichol
Solventum
Solventum
Solventum
Solventum
Vimarie Colom
Jade Gandhi
Corinne Lipscomb
Ashana Outler
Solventum
Vizient, Inc.
Solventum
Vizient, Inc.
Ali Crampton
Christina Gardner
Georgine Looney
Lillie Pedroza
Solventum
Vizient, Inc.
Solventum
Solventum
Cathy Cudmore-Tirino
Stephanie Gonzales
Eileen Mack
Jenny Pohlman
Premier, Inc.
Solventum
Drive Medical
Solventum
Sekisui
Isabella Sarrantonio MTMC
Tara Schlomka Solventum
Lynn Schultz NDC, Inc.
Victoria Sims Henry Schein
Amanda Sohl Solventum
Jaclyn Stafford Medegen Medical
Helen Thomason Solventum
Lili Torres Solventum
Katie Treptow Medline
Fall 2026 • PWH® Connect Journal • mypwh.org
Denisse Vega Solventum
Divya Verma Solventum
Ashley Weathers Vizient, Inc.
Tara White Solventum
Sandra Whitney Solventum
Tina Wolk
Drive Medical
23
2026 CORPORATE PARTNERS
Diamond Partners
PWH Patrons ®
Emerald Partners
Ruby Partners
Medical Adhesive Technologies
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: MYPWH.ORG