Welcome to a new year and a new opportunity to make an impact!

"Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." ~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.?

What better day to recommit to the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association’s mission and vision of global equality for women in the healthcare industry than today. We honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with an official holiday in the U.S., but know our community across the globe celebrates the life and legacy of this civil rights champion who selflessly fought for equality for all during a time when inequality and inequities permeated the land.?

Into the third year of a global pandemic with catastrophic world health and socio-economic impact, we have witnessed the effects of inequities exposed in our healthcare system and the disproportionate disparities faced by the underrepresented as the struggle for equal access to quality care has exacerbated the rise in negative health outcomes. Sadly, as we know, particularly affecting women and girls worldwide.

Our many valued corporate partners along with other agencies have made tremendous strides producing vaccines and treatments to fight and overcome this latest variant and menace to our society. This transformational work possible by the collaborative efforts of so many with history-making strategic speed. Yet as we are well aware, there is indeed so much more that needs to be accomplished to truly sustain and further positive impact.

That’s why this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is a call to action on this day of remembrance - one that the HBA has proactively undertaken for the last 40+ years to make an impact in our sphere of influence in the healthcare industry.

And with greater intentionality as our United Force for Change is committed to the noble struggle for equal rights, equitable access and opportunities for influence, decision-making and impact for ALL women in ALL levels of leadership in the healthcare industry.

This requires eradication of systemic barriers that once dismantled will unleash the brilliance and ingenuity of women. We believe doing this alone is impossible and thus advocate for allyship and activated sponsorship by both men and women so that together we can all powerfully lean in to our shared pursuit of equality.

It’s the question that we must ask ourselves daily. What will we commit to that will create a better path forward for ourselves as well as for others that will result in a more just, diverse and equitable society? How can we apply our experiences, our own privilege and our own power to create a finer world to live in for all of us?

Thank you Dr. King for the reminder that we can indeed make sustained impact in every facet of society if we all make a commitment to follow through. Our journey continues in 2022 and beyond and Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association believes we can do this together - forge a new era of leadership for impact – one committed action at a time.

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Authored by Nikki Jones, Head, diversity, equity and inclusion and people ops for the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association.

Nikki M. Jones is a people and culture leader with over 25+ years of professional experience. As the DE&I lead, she is focused on ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion are infused into every area of business operations - from how we interact with and meet the needs of our members to how we show up as a DE&I champion, leader and change-maker in the healthcare industry.