Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

March is recognized as National Women’s History Month, a time to remember and honor the robust histories and contributions of women who have left lasting legacies on our country, industry, and individual lives. The National Women’s History Alliance chooses a theme each year for National Women’s History Month, and this year they have designated the theme as “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion”. This theme has been chosen in recognition of the women who advocate and understand the importance of eliminating discrimination and moving toward equity.

In celebration of the theme, we are highlighting a few women in history who made great strides toward overcoming barriers and advancing a more just and equitable healthcare industry. It takes courage for women to advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion when established forces have for so long misinterpreted, discredited, and directly discriminated against them. Let these stories be an inspiration of why it is so important to continue our efforts towards dismantling systematic oppression.

1864 – Rebecca Lee Crumpler, MD, became the first Black American woman to earn a medical degree in the United States. In the post-Civil War period, despite experiencing intense racism working in the postwar South, Crumpler cared for freed slaves who did not have any other access to medical care. She was also one of the first African-Americans to publish a medical book, Book of Medical Discourses.

1931 – Dr. Virginia M. Alexander was a pioneering Black doctor and public health expert. She founded the Aspiranto Health Home in Philadelphia to care for some of the most economically insecure members of her community. She treated Black patients without charging any fees in often extremely difficult working conditions. Through her work, Dr. Alexander showed how segregation and racism harmed Black Americans' health.

1951 – Annie Dodge Wauneka, tribal leader of the Navajo Nation and public health activist, dedicated her life to improving the health of the Navajo Tribe through education, advocacy and translation of modern medical techniques. She helped improve housing and sanitation conditions and spread knowledge of modern medical practices and when they should be utilized. In 1963, Wauneka received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work.

1970 - Joyce Nichols, PA-C, became the first woman to be formally educated as a physician assistant (PA). Nichols was a student when the American Association of Physician’s Assistants (AAPA) was established at Duke in 1978. As the first person of color to serve on the AAPA Board of Directors, she advocated for and also founded the AAPA Minority Affairs Committee, setting the course for her to be a role model for others in the PA profession.

1971 – Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías was a pediatrician, the first Latina president of the American Public Health Association and an advocate on behalf of women’s rights. In the 1970s, Dr. Rodríguez Trías, along with other women of color, advocated to move the mostly white women’s health movement toward a broader conversation around social and economic justice. The “important issues,” she remembered, were “about equity…about getting economic power, about ending violence against women.” In the 1980s, Dr. Rodríguez Trías worked as medical director of New York State’s AIDS Institute, advocating for women and children with HIV.

1990 - Antonia Novello, MD, was the first woman and the first Hispanic to serve as the Surgeon General of the United States. As surgeon general, Novello focused on women with AIDS and neonatal transmission of HIV and encouraged Hispanic/Latino Americans to participate in health issues and advocated for improved health care on their behalf. In addition, she raised national awareness about childhood immunization and injury prevention, underage drinking and alcohol/tobacco abuse.

The Gateway-In Project takes pride in being a part of the ever-growing cohort of women paving the way in the dynamic realm of healthcare. With statistics showing that over 85% of nurses, 87% of certified nursing assistants, and 86% of home health aides in the United States are women, it's no surprise that 85% of our accomplished graduates also identify as women. We celebrate the success of our female-identifying students who are making significant contributions to the healthcare field. Explore a selection of these inspiring individuals in the slideshow below.

1 Julie Vang, a graduate of AlveoMed in Carmichael, CA.

2 Michaela Thompson, the Placement Coordinator, collaborating with instructors from Pacific Health Educational Center in Fresno, CA.

3 Michaela Thompson, the Placement Coordinator, celebrating alongside the accomplished graduates of Pacific Health Educational Center in Fresno, CA.

4 Recent graduates from the LA Skills Academy in Santa Barbara, CA proudly reciting their oath as Certified Nursing Assistants.

5 Isabel Baker, a graduate from Unitek Learning in Fremont at Masonic Homes.

Thank you for all that you contribute to the healthcare workforce.

Continue to inspire future female leaders!