Editor's Letter

In 2006, Modern Healthcare kicked off the Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare recognition program to spotlight executives who made up only a small percentage of industry leaders.

While diversity in the C-suite still lags—minorities represent just 11% of executive leadership positions according to the most recent data from the Institute for Diversity and Health Equity—these leaders are leaving a lasting imprint on their communities and the industry as a whole.

As healthcare moves to more effectively address community health in all of its dimensions, building more diverse leadership teams will become critical. You will see some new faces on this year's list. It's part of Modern Healthcare's effort to spotlight more recent achievements.

After the events in Charlottesville, Va., last summer, one executive had no choice but to face the aftermath of those protests when the injured flooded her hospital's emergency department.

We also recognize an impressive list of people who worked hard over the past year to address inequities in care, some by fighting to maintain Medicaid coverage for the poorest and most vulnerable among us. Others made sure that victims of natural disasters didn't remain marginalized and untreated. Still others made their mark by moving markets and maintaining missions in an ever-shifting landscape.

And as you'll read, our Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare are making a difference in the industry and their communities. And their professions.

We applaud all of them for their accomplishments and look forward to celebrating their successes in the years to come.

Aurora Aguilar


Editor