A Woman's Guide to Navigating a Successful Career in Healthcare Information Technology

Co-authors: Amy Sabillon, Ayanna Chambliss, Lindsay Rowlands, and Stacey B. Lee, JD.
According to recent estimates, women comprise over 47 percent of employees in healthcare with less than 28% of them in leadership roles. It is no secret that the field of healthcare information technology (HIT) has been an industry largely composed of men. This continues to be the case, despite progress over the last decade with society embracing greater inclusiveness and diversity. Men still make up the overwhelming majority in this field and it continues to be an uphill battle for women. While the industry is changing, the changes are slow to occur and women are still underrepresented in tech leadership even though they have demonstrated superior skill sets when they exhibit the qualifications for those roles.
Having worked in HIT for over 25 years, the author recognizes that it is still possible to be misinformed on some issues pertaining to these matters. He used to assume that most women would be less inclined to work in the field of technology, but now realizes that several factors that come into play that influence the decisions made by career-driven women.
The turning point for him came in an unexpected way: his own daughter shared with him that she was interested in pursuing a career in HIT. This led him to investigate the challenges women faced when entering the field. He discovered that there were a great many challenges women needed to overcome and deal with and that he desired to find a way to better guide his daughter in this incredibly rewarding but also challenging field. As a result, he went in search of strong female examples in the industry for guidance. The knowledge these women have shared with him is invaluable, and it is where he received the inspiration for this book.
This book will include features and/or interviews of extremely successful women in HIT who are considered experts in the industry and are well-known in their respective fields. From tech companies to health systems to private practices and more, and from highly-ranked titles such as Chief Information Officers (CIOs), insights will be obtained from diverse perspectives. The book features over 50 of the industry's brightest female pioneers who are willing to share insightful lessons backed by several years of experience, as well as tips for navigating a successful career in HIT. While successful women have a tendency of empowering other women to succeed, it is not possible for them to speak to every young woman looking for advice. The intent of this book is to provide the opportunity to capture stories from highly successful women to inspire the next generation who want to pursue a career in HIT on a much larger scale and to inspire those already working in the field who are struggling to advance in their careers.
The book also enlisted the support of several female co-authors who have provided deep insights on industry opportunities, ways to deal with harassment, the history of female tech innovators, and negotiating competitive salary and employment agreements. Additional industry experts provided guidance on tapping into venture capital funding and tools for career development. A comprehensive resource guide and glossary of industry terms are included.