Each year in May the healthcare community highlights the unique needs of women and girls. And especially as we navigate a world changed by a global pandemic, we are looking to our leaders for support and answers. This month, we’re taking time to highlight just a few of the women helping our country continue to move forward in the midst of uncertainty:

Dr. Deborah Birx 

A world-renowned global health official and physician, Dr. Birx is the key coordinator for the U.S. Government’s response to COVID-19. She’s also worked alongside multiple administrations to combat HIV/AIDS for decades.

Dr. Monica Bharel 

As the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Health, Dr. Bharel leads a number of statewide programs such as environmental health, infectious diseases, injury prevention, and others.

Dr. Mandy Cohen 

Dr. Cohen was appointed as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in January 2017. A physician with a background in a number of health organizations, she has been supporting the governor’s efforts to reopen the state.

Dr. Ngozi Ezike 

As the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Dr. Ezike has played a key role in understanding the way the pandemic is affecting the life of residents in her state.

Dr. Dorothy Fink

Dr. Fink is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health and Director of the Office on Women's Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Her background includes significant research on a number of women’s health issues. 

Dr. Joneigh Khaldun 

Dr. Khaldun is the Chief Medical Executive and Chief Deputy Director for Health in the state of Michigan. She provides medical guidance for the entire state and oversees a number of state departments.

Dr. Rachel Levine 

Dr. Levine is the Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She previously served as the state’s Physician General and is also a professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry.

Judith Perischilli 

Appointed by the Governor of New Jersey as the Commissioner for the state Department of Health in 2019, Judith Perischilli has been involved in a number of statewide health initiatives. She is currently supervising the state’s response to the pandemic. 

Dr. Kathleen Toomey

Dr. Toomey is the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. Appointed by the governor in 2019, she oversees local health departments and a number of public health programs. Her previous work in Alaska inspired the 1990s television program Northern Exposure. 

Marylou Sudders

As the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Massachusetts, Marylou Sudders works closely with state leaders to lead a number of health initiatives, include the statewide COVID-19 response.

Dr. Anne Schuchat

Dr. Schuchat is the Principal Deputy Director at the CDC. In other words, she reports directly to the CDC Director, and served as the acting director twice in the last 4 years. She has contributed to a number of CDC emergency responses and research.

Seema Verma

Nominated by President Trump to be the Administrator of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Seema Verma oversees the administration of these healthcare programs by working with State Medicaid agencies, health departments, and departments of insurance, as well as governor’s offices, federal government, and a number of other private companies and foundations.