Importance of Women Leadership in Global Healthcare: Insights from a Panel Discussion

On the second day of the Bahrain C3 Summit 2024, a panel titled “Importance of Women Leadership in Global Healthcare” provided a platform for thought leaders from various sectors to share their insights. Among the panelists was our Co-founder & CEO, Mrs. Yasemin Şahin, who engaged in an informing discussion about the evolving role of women in science and medicine. Here are some key takeaways and reflections from this thought-provoking session.

Experience and Evolution

The discussion was initiated with an exploration of personal journeys through education and professional advancements in science and medicine. It was noted that “as careers evolved in science and medicine, the changes seen in peers and with leaders in hospitals and businesses” marked a notable shift in the landscape, yet challenges persist that require ongoing strategic efforts.

From the very beginning, TURBOARD has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining a balanced ratio of male and female employees, starting with hiring one male and one female interns, thereby reflecting our belief in the strength and value of diverse perspectives.

Proving Ourselves in Every New Situation

The panel repeatedly touched upon the need for women to prove themselves anew in each professional setting. This underscored the persistent biases that continue to challenge progress, reflecting a broader societal issue that demands continuous advocacy and action.

Unique Strengths Women Bring

Insights into the unique strengths that women bring to their professions were shared. Emphasized were qualities like empathy, holistic problem-solving, and inclusive leadership, which are particularly invaluable in healthcare for providing comprehensive and empathetic patient care.

During the panel, our Co-founder & CEO, Yasemin Sahin, shared the inspiring story of Florence Nightingale, a pioneer whose contributions to nursing and statistical analysis dramatically reformed healthcare during the Crimean War. Nightingale was instrumental in highlighting how many soldiers were dying not from their wounds, but from preventable infections within military hospitals. By meticulously recording patient care details and transforming these data into visual representations like the 'Nightingale Rose' chart, she underscored the dire mortality rates stemming from inadequate sanitation practices.

Presenting her findings to Queen Victoria, Nightingale’s advocacy led to significant reforms in military healthcare policies and improved sanitary conditions, ultimately saving countless lives and laying the foundation for modern epidemiology and public health practices. Her legacy continues to inspire healthcare professionals to advocate for evidence-based policies and strive for better patient outcomes.

This story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that women leaders can have in shaping the future of healthcare and driving positive change for society as a whole. Nightingale's journey, marked by dedication and resilience, emphasizes that success knows no gender and that the path to impactful change often involves overcoming significant challenges.

Research and Policy Impact

The panel discussed the significant gaps in research concerning women's health and the expected shifts due to new policy directions. The need for more funding and greater emphasis on women's health research was highlighted, acknowledging its historical lack of sufficient investment and attention.

Call to Action and Closing Reflections

The session concluded with a strong call for “the elimination of systemic barriers and the implementation of significant changes to enhance professional environments for women.” It was widely agreed that such empowerment not only benefits individuals but significantly advances global health outcomes.

At TURBOARD, we remain dedicated to leveraging our platform to advocate for and facilitate data-driven decisions that support more inclusive and equitable healthcare practices globally. Our commitment extends beyond business intelligence solutions; it is about using our influence to foster a healthier, more equitable world.

The importance of supporting women in healthcare is clear—it enriches the entire spectrum of healthcare services and contributes to a more balanced global health system.

About Moderator and Panelists

Moderator Ambassador Dr. Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Task Force 2020-2021 (ret), USA	Deborah L. Birx, M.D., has spent her career serving the United States, first as an Army Colonel and later, running some of the most high-profile and influential programs at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of State. As a world renowned medical expert and leader, she has focused her work on clinical and basic immunology, infectious disease, pandemic preparedness, vaccine research, and global health. Most recently, Dr. Birx served as the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, where she used complex data integration to drive decision making, and worked closely with state officials across the country to provide state-specific advice and guidance. In 2014, Dr. Birx became an Ambassador-at-Large, when she assumed the role of the Coordinator of the United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS and U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy. As the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, she oversaw the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history, as well as all U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. In 1985, Dr. Birx began her career with the Department of Defense (DoD) as a military trained clinician in immunology, focusing on HIV/AIDS vaccine research. Through her professionalism and leadership in the field, she progressed to serve as the Director of the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research from 1996-2005. Dr. Birx led RV 144, or the Thai trial, one of the most influential HIV vaccine trials in history, which provided the first supporting evidence of any vaccine’s potential effectiveness in preventing HIV infection. During this time, she also rose to the rank of Colonel, bringing together the Navy, Army, and Air Force in a new model of cooperation — increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. Military’s HIV/AIDS efforts through inter- and intra-agency collaboration. Then known as Colonel Birx, she was awarded two prestigious U.S. Meritorious Service Medals and the Legion of Merit Award for her groundbreaking research, leadership and management skills. From 2005-2014, Dr. Birx served successfully as the Director of CDC’s Division of Global HIV/AIDS (DGHA), where she utilized her leadership qualities, superior technical skills, and infectious passion to achieve tremendous public health impact. As DGHA Director, she led the implementation of CDC’s PEPFAR programs around the world and managed an annual budget of more than $1.5 billion. Dr. Birx was responsible for all of the agency’s global HIV/AIDS activities, including the oversight of more than 1900 staff, and more than 50 country and regional offices in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, and Latin America. In 2011, Dr. Birx received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the African Society for Laboratory Medicine for her distinguished and dedicated commitment to building local capacity and strengthening quality laboratory health services and systems in Africa. In 2014, CDC honored her leadership in advancing the agency’s HIV/AIDS response with the highly prestigious William C. Watson, Jr. Medal of Excellence. Dr. Birx is known for driving implementation improvements to increase impact and has spent a career increasing overall effectiveness of programs through change management. Dr. Birx has published over 230 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, authored nearly a dozen chapters in scientific publications, and has developed and patented vaccines. She received her medical degree from the Hershey School of Medicine, Pennsylvania State University, and she trained in internal medicine and basic and clinical immunology at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Birx is board certified in internal medicine, allergy and immunology, and diagnostic and clinical laboratory immunology.
Panelist Dr. Zahraa Al Hilli, MD, Department of General Surgery, The Cleveland Clinic, USA	Dr. Zahraa Alhilli is a general surgeon and is affiliated with Cleveland Clinic, Bahrain. She received her medical degree from Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and has been in practice between 11-20 years.
Panelist Dr. Mariam Al Hilli, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Cleveland Clinic, USA	Dr. Mariam AlHilli, MD, is a Staff Physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cleveland Clinic. She graduated with honors from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Dr. AlHilli completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) and a three-year fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Mayo Clinic.
Panelist Ms. Yasemin Sahin, CEO & Co-Founder, TURBOARD, Turkey	Mrs. Sahin is the CEO and Co-Founder of TURBOARD, an innovative Business Intelligence and analytics company that enables its users to communicate effectively, using data to tell stories, develop insights and strategy, and gain a competitive advantage. As the CEO of the Company, Mrs. Sahin has created unique opportunities leveraging the Company’s scale to build, expand, operate and globalize the business. An entrepreneur dedicated to creating value for her clients; goals for her teams, Mrs. Sahin is a pioneer who combines her strong knowledge and background in the IT sector with finance and business development to create TURBOARD, the next generation BI and data analytics providing platform. She has patented a system in TURBOARD to build a global sales, technical and finance team with a platform committed to providing high quality products with superior service. With 16+ years experience in the IT industry, she is a Visionary Entrepreneur, Strategist and a highly motivated, result oriented, ambitious and passionate executive. Disrupting the sector with Mrs. Sahin’s state of the art technologies, competitive price points and excellent customer service solutions, TURBOARD is one of the leading Analytics startups in the world. She is an innovator, business leader, financier and a talented entrepreneur recognized for her product and technology innovations, leadership talents, business formulations skills and focus on BI investments. Today, Mrs. Sahin’s analytics platform is used by more than 400,000 users all over the world.