Why Healthcare’s Future Demands More Women in the C-Suite

Women dominate the healthcare workforce, yet remain dramatically underrepresented in executive leadership — a gap that shapes patient trust, equity, and system outcomes.

Two decades ago, when Dr. Carla Jackie Sampson was completing her administrative residency, she recalled walking down hospital halls lined with portraits of former leaders. All were men. She asked herself, “As a woman who aspires to leadership, is there any hope for me?”

Dr. Carla Jackie Sampson

Director, Master of Health Administration Program, NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

Today, Sampson serves as director of the Master of Health Administration program at NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and contributes to the school’s M.P.A. in Health Policy and Management and Master of Health Law and Strategy programs. While women are earning health administration degrees at record rates, she said, “Top leadership still does not reflect the gender representation I see in programs.” Closing this gap is a strategic imperative.

Why does this matter? “When you seek care, you need to establish trust,” Sampson said. “If you don’t see other people like you, that makes trust more difficult. We have a history where women are not believed when they seek help.” This disconnect has consequences today. Recent data highlights that only 41% of women globally feel there are sufficient healthcare services to address their health concerns.

At NYU Wagner, Sampson helps her students overcome the roadblocks to leadership. To thrive in tomorrow’s unpredictable landscape, students must develop adaptive leadership skills and cultivate psychological safety.

“We are here to serve people,” she said. “If you are behind the scenes or if you have made it to the C-suite, you are doing it for that patient who hasn’t been served by the system. That requires curiosity about yourself and other people.” With more women in these critical leadership roles, healthcare can finally build a system rooted in empathy and truly representative care.

To learn more about NYU Wagner’s graduate health programs, visit apply.wagner.nyu.edu/portal/healthprograms

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