By Taren O’Brien, MSN, RN
National Hospital Week is an opportune time to reflect on how women have shaped health care in South Florida, starting with the Sisters of Mercy, who arrived in Fort Lauderdale in 1959 to operate Holy Cross Hospital. The Sisters of Mercy carried the torch originally lit by the Sisters of St. Joseph, forging a lasting legacy of trailblazing women in health care.
Back then, women accounted for only six percent of America’s physician workforce, according to the American Medical Association. Thankfully, there has been significant improvement in the representation of women in medicine since that time. In these roles, women have made remarkable strides in shaping health care policies, advancing medical research and revolutionizing patient care, making the case for continued efforts to improve women’s representation across all health care levels.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about eight in 10 workers in health care occupations are women. While women are steadily gaining ground in the physician workforce, they continue to be underrepresented, accounting for only 44 percent of physicians across the U.S. health care industry. There is a bright spot for the next generation of women physicians. Women account for an increasing majority of students who apply to and graduate from medical school. What’s more, according to previously released data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), in 2023-2024 women accounted for 54.6% of medical school students after having become a majority for the first time in 2019-2020.
Women in leadership roles are even more scarce. Holy Cross Health is proud to be making strides in this area with an executive team of 12 composed of 10 women who continue to drive community health initiatives, transforming patient care in ways that yield improved health outcomes and benefit entire communities. Holy Cross’ Board of Directors now has eight women serving on the Board, one short of a majority. There are also many women in leadership roles at many levels of the ministry. The women of Holy Cross come from diverse backgrounds and life journeys. We are so proud of the diversity we embrace and celebrate at Holy Cross.
There have been many studies that underscore the importance of gender in care, with women often preferring to be treated by women doctors, just as men often prefer treatment by male doctors. This is particularly true when it comes to breast health, one of the areas where the community has benefited from women-led, women-focused advancements. The Holy Cross Partners in Breast Health program was established to provide breast health services to uninsured and underserved women, bridging a critical gap by offering outreach education, clinical breast exams, screening mammograms and diagnostic procedures to women who lack access to health care services. It addresses disparities in health outcomes, which makes for a healthier society overall.
The Partners in Breast Health program is part of the Community Health and Well-Being Department which partners with the Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women’s Center. This center is a direct result of women coming together to support initiatives that improve women’s health. Beyond the physicians, nurses, hospital executives and others who make decisions about care delivery, more than 100 Broward County women each pledged $5,000 to help establish this comprehensive, spa-like health care center designed for women by women that serves as a one-stop, state-of-the-art facility where women can receive services, treatment and care that meets their unique needs.
During National Hospital Week, Holy Cross Health celebrates the progress that has been made while acknowledging that there is more work to be done to address the gender imbalance that persists, an inequity that deprives communities of the profound influence that women have on shaping healthier lives. Building diverse leadership teams, dedicating resources to developing and mentoring women in their careers and expanding access to care are a step in the right direction.
Taren O’Brien is Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale.
