At ChenMed, we see the impact of women in healthcare every single day—not just in textbooks or history lessons, but in the care they deliver, the teams they inspire, and the systems they improve. This Women’s History Month, we’re honoring the women who lead with love, think strategically, show up for their patients and peers, and turn everyday challenges into meaningful change.

From the exam room to the boardroom, women are building better healthcare—one relationship, one breakthrough, and one bold decision at a time.

Women at ChenMed aren’t just part of healthcare—they are the heartbeat of it. Across every center, every team, and every role, they lead with compassion, empower others, and drive real, measurable change.

As we reflect on Women’s History Month, we’re not only recognizing the progress of the past—we’re spotlighting the women who are shaping the future of healthcare right now. These are the advocates, mentors, and changemakers we’re proud to call colleagues.

WomeninHealthcare-DrivingChangeandShapingtheFuture

Continuing a Legacy of Impact

For centuries, women have been the backbone of healthcare—often working behind the scenes as caregivers, midwives, nurses, and healers long before they were formally recognized in the field. From pioneers like Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the U.S., to Florence Nightingale, who revolutionized modern nursing, women have always shaped the way we care for one another.

Today, women make up the majority of the healthcare workforce, yet they remain underrepresented in leadership roles. That’s why it’s so important to tell these stories: not just to recognize excellence but to affirm that women don’t just belong in leadership—they thrive in it.

Everyday Leadership in Action

The women of ChenMed lead not by title alone but by example. Whether it’s a Care Facilitator calming a worried patient, an Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Manager jumping on weekend calls, or a Director of Strategy bringing clarity to a complex initiative, these women lead with courage, consistency, and heart.

Their leadership is often found in quiet moments—in a one-on-one conversation where someone feels truly heard, in a patient’s home during a wellness visit, or in the thoughtful process tweaks that help a center run more smoothly.

Showing Up When It Matters Most

Take Caroline Stowe, CareLine APP Manager. When her team faced a weekend surge in patient calls, she didn’t hesitate—she jumped on the phones herself. When an RN Manager position temporarily sat vacant, she stepped up to lead the nursing team without skipping a beat. As Shannon Hone, Manager of Virtual Care Excellence, said, “She argues to be the one who GETS to call patients back.”

Caroline leads not for recognition but out of love and accountability—reminding everyone around her that leadership is action, not position.

Transforming Strategy into Support

For Vale Bustamante, Director of Strategy, leadership means bringing structure to complexity. She has a gift for turning high-level ideas into actionable steps, keeping teams aligned and focused.

Steve Brownlee, National Director of Pharmacy, said, “She’s been a godsend.” He praised both her work ethic and the steady presence she brings to fast-moving projects. Vale’s ability to navigate competing priorities with calm clarity has made her a trusted voice and a cornerstone of her department’s success.

Lifting Others While Driving Results

Bobbie Rodriguez, Associate Center Operations Director, doesn’t just lead her team—she builds them up. From CFs to the CFTL and CCM, she’s hands-on in her support, mentoring her staff with patience, guidance, and vision.

Her leadership produces tangible outcomes. After taking over a new center, Bobbie helped reduce hospital arrivals from the mid-800s to the low-400s—a testament to her investment in people and her ability to inspire them. Melissa Cortez, Care Facilitator, shared, “She’s not just a great boss—she’s a friend. She’s someone you can trust.”

Meeting Patients with Compassion

Few things define healthcare more than the connection between provider and patient. Dr. SamRita Varde, Center Clinical Director at Corum, embodies this in every way.

When a patient experiencing depression and frequent hospitalizations stopped coming to appointments, Dr. Varde didn’t wait. She visited them at home with a care package and a heartfelt letter from the team. Her visit brought the patient to tears—and brought them back into care.

“You guys are my family,” the patient later said. “I love each and every one of you.” That moment wasn’t just meaningful—it was healing.

A Legacy of Leadership-And Love

What connects these women isn’t just what they do—it’s how they do it. They lead with empathy, prioritize people, and create space for others to succeed. And they never lose sight of the mission: to give patients more good days and teammates more support to serve with purpose.

They are proof that women in healthcare don’t just fill roles—they redefine them.

Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future

Every story matters—from those who paved the way to the women making change right now. The women of ChenMed are not just continuing a legacy—they’re building one of their own. Their compassion, courage, and commitment are changing lives every day and lighting the path for the next generation of women in healthcare.

They are what healthcare leadership looks like.