Once again, women are leading the way

If you look back over the history of healthcare in the U.S., one fact is impossible to ignore: Most of the pioneers were female.

They were often women motivated by faith, possessing few medical supplies but seemingly bottomless stores of determination, innovation and compassion. Several hundred years later, the women executives we honor in these pages are worthy heirs to that legacy, advancing the quality of care in our nation.

Let us be clear about one thing, though. These honorees are not merely among the top women executives; they represent the very best our country has to offer, regardless of gender.

The challenges for our industry are many, from accountable care to health insurance exchanges. We are fortunate to have exceptional leaders like the Top 25 Women in Healthcare to steer a course through territories that are just as uncharted as those the early trailblazers faced. At Furst Group, we have encountered many visionary female executives in our decades of retained search and consulting work. We congratulate the 2011 honorees and the record number of nominees for their willingness to help define leadership at this critical time.

Bob Clarke is CEO and Sherrie Barch is president of the Furst Group, based in Rockford, Ill.