Diversity & Community Health Equity

Women's History Month

From Inspiration to Access

Women across healthcare—clinicians, administrators, researchers, nurses, and public health leaders—carry extraordinary responsibility while often navigating bias, invisible labor, and competing demands at work and at home. Yet mentorship and sponsorship remain among the strongest drivers of advancement—and access to those relationships is not equal.

Beyond the Title will begin with a panel discussion featuring women leaders across roles and disciplines, followed by a mentorship speed-networking session designed to reduce barriers to connection, guidance, and opportunity.

Attendees Will:

• Learn practical strategies women leaders use to navigate career growth, leadership, and workplace dynamics
• Gain insight into how mentorship and sponsorship work—and how to build both intentionally
• Reflect on wellness, boundaries, and sustainable success in demanding environments
• Make direct connections with women leaders through facilitated mentorship conversations

Rescheduled Featured Event: Beyond the Title—Women, Power, Health, and the Paths We Navigate

• Date: April 29, 2026
• Time: 11:30 am — 2 pm (CT)
• Location: Hospital Room 1310 or Online via Zoom
• Register today!

Panel + Mentorship Focus Areas

Join women leaders and subject matter experts for a panel discussion followed by mentorship speed networking that explores:

• Navigating Systems Not Built for Women: How bias, expectations, and invisible labor shape career paths—and strategies for moving forward with clarity and confidence.
• Advocating for Women’s Health: Addressing disparities in how women’s symptoms are treated, reducing stigma around topics such as sexual and mental health, and empowering patients—and ourselves—to speak up. 
• Leadership, Identity & Voice: How women build influence, decision-making power, and authenticity across clinical, academic, and administrative roles.
• Wellness While Advancing: Managing burnout risk, setting boundaries, and defining success in a way that supports the whole person.
• Mentorship, Sponsorship & Access to Opportunity: What actually opens doors, how sponsorship differs from mentorship, and how to build relationships that support advancement.

This session moves beyond awareness toward access, connection, and actionable growth. Participants will leave with career insights they can apply immediately—and new relationships that can support their professional journey.

Event Flow

• 11:30 – 11:55 am: Arrival & Music Playlist
• 11:55 am – Noon: Welcome
• Noon – 1 pm: Panel Discussion and Q&A 
• 1 – 2 pm: Mentorship Speed Networking  
• Lunch will be provided

Panelists

• Heather Prendergast, MD, MPH, MBA, MHA, MS
  Professor of Emergency Medicine; Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs, University of Illinois College of Medicine
• Adriana Black, MPH, MAT
  Director of Health Affairs Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Director, Odehmenan Health Equity Center
• Shikha Jain, MD
  Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology), Cancer Center; Director of Communication Strategies in Medicine; Associate Director of Oncology Communication & Digital Innovation
• Colleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMGT-BC, CMCN, ACM-RN, FCM, FAACM
  Associate Chief Clinical Operations Officer, Care Continuum

At UI Health, we are committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive care—within our community and within our workforce. We invite staff, clinicians, students, and community partners to join us in honoring Women’s History Month by investing in connection, mentorship, and the shared work of strengthening women’s leadership across healthcare.

For additional information or to get involved, visit ODCHE.UIHealth.Care or contact the Office of Diversity and Community Health Equity at UIHDiversity@uic.edu.

Archives

Read more about the achievements and contributions of women in our community throughout the years.

• Woman Physicians Who Changed Our Field
• Women's History Month 2022
• Women's History Month 2023
• Women's History Month 2024
• Women's History Month 2025