Empowering Women in Healthcare
UCB’s Women in Leadership Group recognized at ACE Aspire Awards for transformational impact (Issue #302; 1,200 words; 5.5 minutes)
The recent Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Annual Conference in Toronto presented the ACE Aspire Awards to recognize companies for promoting diversity and inclusion in the healthcare industry. Takeda, Roche with Genentech, and UCB were acknowledged for creating inclusive workplaces.
Pam Eads, Co-Lead at Women in Leadership (WiL) UCB USA & Canada, mentioned in an interview with NPC Healthbiz Weekly that the group's goal is to create an empowering environment for women in the company. The group has over 700 members globally, representing 16% of UCB’s workforce. They promote women in leadership and encourage participation in meetings and events, such as “Lean In” circles and coffee chats, which have been well-received.
Eads [pictured below] highlighted how the WiL was founded by a small group of women at UCB to support and empower female employees. The group has grown significantly, with eight country chapters and plans to expand to 14 by 2024. Their initiatives led to substantial improvements in gender diversity within UCB, with women forming most of the United States leadership team. This progress has been supported by the allyship of male counterparts, who have offered mentorship and championed women with leadership potential.
Eads said UCB is committed to inclusivity that goes beyond gender diversity. The company supports employees who belong to multiple diverse communities. UCB’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team hosted an intersectionality event last year, recognizing that many employees are members of more than one employee resource group besides WiL. This approach ensures that employees are supported in multiple facets of their identities.
To Eads, the Honourable Mention at the ACE Aspire Award reflects UCB’s ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for women, but there is still a long way to go. “Receiving the recognition from HBA meant a lot to us. It was a moment for us to celebrate,” she said. “However, we also understand there’s still much work to be done.”
Eads is optimistic about WiL’s future growth and plans to tackle taboo topics like menopause. The group aims to strengthen its relationship with the HBA. She says, “Our goal is to ensure that women in leadership actively partner with business priorities rather than merely align under them.”
THIS WEEK 10/08/24
GE HealthCare announced the U.S. FDA has approved flurpiridaz F 18 injection (Flyrcado), a positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging agent, for detecting coronary artery disease.
The U.S. FDA approved Fresenius Kabi’s ustekinumab-aauz (Otulfi), a biosimilar of Stelara, for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis.
ABL Bio entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with MSD, a subsidiary of Merck, to evaluate ABL103 in combination with MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumours.
Viatris launched sildenafil citrate orodispersible film (Viagra ODF) in Canada for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Viagra ODF dissolves in the mouth, with or without water, and is available at a similar price to Viagra tablets.
NOW LISTEN UP: HERE’S JOHN McKENDRY
In season 13 of the NPC Podcast, John McKendry, President and CEO of KYE, gives insights into the importance of operating within regulations, leadership in pharma, and new treatment and delivery options for ADHD. Hear him in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea, and Mark McElwain.
HEALTHBIZ REWIND
This feature of NPC Healthbiz Weekly looks back at some of the most insightful moments from previous NPC Podcast episodes. In Healthbiz Rewind, you’ll read bold life sci predictions made during the renowned “Prognostication Korner” segment of the NPC Podcast.
Corinne Buchanan-Russell
President & Co-Founder
Advancing Black Talent in Pharma
Mississauga, Ont.
Season 12, episode 01
Listen to this episode here
What bold predictions do you have about the sciences or life sciences industry over the next 12 to 24 months or even longer?
I am confident that we will continue to move in the right direction. However, we are facing significant headwinds. Companies today are being challenged and sued over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. As Canadians, we need to focus on the opportunity to be more diverse, not less. This is not a zero-sum game; it’s not about one group getting ahead at the expense of another.
It’s our time to show the world and our Canadian talent that this is the country where opportunities are created based on skill and talent. As companies become more determined and honest in their DEI efforts, we will continue to see growth over the next 12 months and beyond. It can’t just be a checkbox—it must be an honest and meaningful opportunity for our country.
INTRODUCING DERMATOLOGY.BUSINESS
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If you’ve got your hand up, head over to Dermatology.Business, the new newsletter from the same fine folks who bring you NPC Healthbiz Weekly, and so many other information sources you depend on. It’s published every other Wednesday at precisely 6:00 a.m. EDT. It has plenty of breaking news to tell you about, as reported directly from the Dermasphere.
Check it out here and request your free subscription.
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