What does it really take to lead in healthcare policy and data innovation as a woman, and how do we navigate the power, pitfalls, and politics that come with it?

In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, Kat McDavitt, President of Insenna, and Lisa Bari, former CEO of Civitas Networks for Health, reflected on their personal experiences as young women in executive roles, highlighting gender-based challenges in the workplace. Kat described her transition from a female-dominated PR consultancy to a more male-centric corporate environment, where she had to adapt her communication style to be heard and recognized. She noted subtle biases, such as having her ideas repeated by men who then received credit, and observed how motherhood often placed an added burden on women’s careers. Lisa, who does not have children, shared how she witnessed the “maternity tax” affect her peers and emphasized the disproportionate negative feedback that women in leadership still receive compared to men, regardless of qualifications or performance.

Shifting focus, Lisa discussed her work at Civitas, a nonprofit that supports its members, primarily public health and healthcare data organizations, in navigating policy, advocacy, and data-sharing frameworks. She stressed the importance of clear messaging, coalition-building, and adaptability, especially during times of policy change. One example she gave was California’s complex and siloed efforts to connect social care and clinical data through Medicaid reforms, where her team works to guide stakeholders toward more integrated solutions that serve patients better.

Kat elaborated on data value and governance, pointing out that while many organizations recognize the financial potential of healthcare data, few understand the broader ecosystem of data use rights and legal limitations. She cautioned against unethical data acquisition practices and warned of the growing commoditization of health data. Both Lisa and Kat highlighted the importance of lawful and transparent data use, noting common misunderstandings about patient ownership of data in the U.S. and advocating for stronger governance and clearer contract negotiations to ensure responsible and equitable data practices.

Tune in for candid reflections on gender dynamics in leadership, the complexities of healthcare data governance, and the evolving role of policy in shaping equitable health systems!