Patient Commando launched Canadian Women Changing Healthcare. It’s their contribution to XX in Health Week 2013, an initiative meant to focus attention on the lack of female representation at healthcare’s decision-making levels.
Patient Commando’s list points the spotlight on women who are changing the face of healthcare with limited resources. They are transforming healthcare through the sheer force of personal will, a finely tuned sense for innovation, persuasion and unlimited enthusiasm for their mission. It’s a profound lesson in leadership, demonstrating the courage required when risking so much of your heart for your cause.
The list includes women who have created advocacy initiatives, changed how young healthcare professionals are being taught, built new channels for patient communication, provoked a new discourse about dying, exposed ugly truths of the lived illness experience, expressed their voice through the arts, and led expeditions 300 km north of the Arctic circle as an example of living successfully in the face of mortal, daily challenges.
XX in Health Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate these extraordinary visionaries toiling on the side of patients, many of whom do so without expectation of reward, only an ambition to ease suffering and save a life.
I’m honoured to have been included in Patient Commando’s 2013 list of Canadian Women Changing Healthcare along with these fabulous females. Read their stories.