This week HSJ will be celebrating women in healthcare, focusing on female leaders and featuring a list of 50 most inspirational women in the sector.

Women montage

Women montage NOT FOR REUSE

Women montage NOT FOR REUSE

Do we have enough women in leadership positions? What can be done to encourage them? Is the NHS doing enough? What do men and women think about this issue? We will aim to cover all these topics in the form of surveys, articles, opinion pieces, interviews and podcasts.

On Monday, Dr Penny Newman and Ruth Sealy look at ensuring equal opportunities for women in medicine. Former NHS London chief Ruth Carnall discusses the three most importan lessons from her career in the health service.

There is also a Q&A with Heather Williams, founder of ScienceGrrl, on how she got into medical physics and about what can be done to encourage more women to join the profession.

Tuesday and Wednesday will see articles by Valerie Bevan and Jenny Rogers on subtle sexism and interview techniques respectively. Dr Judith Smith, director of policy at the Nuffield Trust, argues that the NHS has not thought deeply enough about what type of leaders it wants for the future − or how to get them. Also, listen to podcasts by Dr Emma Stanton women entrepreneurs and Sara Khan on a new generation of female leaders; and read about Anna Dugdale’s journey to the top − and the challenges, opportunities and attractions it entailed.

There is also a Q&A with Heather Tierney-Moore on how she became chief executive of a trust and her grandmother’s roots as a suffragette.

On Wednesday evening, we reveal our list of 50 most inspirational women in healthcare, with Karen Lynas, one of the judges, explaining the judging criteria.  

HSJ, along with the King’s Fund, have conducted a survey on female health leaders. Claire Read analyses the results, explaining why they are a cause for both optimism and concern. She also speaks to NHS England clinical director Celia Ingham Clark on the latter’s leadership style and essential attributes for the job. In an exclusive podcast, Ruth Sealy tells Nosmot Gbadamosi what lessons the healthcare can learn from the FTSE100.  

On Friday, Suzanne Rastrick, director of quality at Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, speaks to Shreshtha Trivedi on the importance of role models and mentors. Bernie Cuthel, chief executive of Liverpool Community Health Trust, writes about the challenges of being a female chief executive. And Polly Jones, a regulatory performance manager at King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust, argues “Generation Y” should be better represented on boards.

Meanwhile, scientists Elly Castellano and Sue Edyvean share their views on leadership, inspirational figures, and the myth that science and mathematics are only for geeks.

Join in the discussion on our website, as well as on Twitter and LinkedIn, and give us your feedback. Our hashtag is #HSJWomen.  

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