For women leaders in healthcare, it can get a bit lonely at the top.
To help change that, MGMA’s Women Leaders in Healthcare resource group — facilitated by Cheryl Mongillo, MBA; Delores McNair, MHA, ASCP; and Paola Turchi, MSHCA, FHFMA, CPC, FACMPE — is centering support, empowerment and creating meaningful connections and mentorship opportunities for women in healthcare leadership.
The power of connection
As healthcare professionals advance in their careers, the support networks they once relied tend to shrink, leaving fewer meaningful connections to help them navigate professional challenges.
"As you grow professionally, you lose some of the connections you used to bounce ideas off of,” Turchi explained. “That has been an eye opener for me about the importance of networking and having a group of individuals you trust who you can share challenges with."
McNair agreed. "It’s about finding your people — those who can be a sounding board, a mentor, or just someone who understands the challenges you face," she explained.
For McNair, the depth of support offered by the group is what makes it invaluable. “MGMA was that place where I could give and have no limit, knowing I would get it back,” she said. “And when I met Paola and Cheryl, I knew that we were dynamite,” she said. “The networking is great, but more than that, the support — whether it's a legal matter, an organizational matter, an educational matter, a mentorship matter, a financial matter, or even just figuring out how to walk into a room with confidence — that’s what everyone gets when we come together. There are no barriers, no judgment. It's simply resources, support, and opportunity."
The role of mentorship
During the group’s most recent meeting, mentorship emerged as a key theme for participants. When asked about why mentorship seemed to resonate so strongly, the three shared how mentorship had shaped their own careers in unexpected ways.
"I started out as a secretary at a hospital," Mongillo said. "One of the vice presidents, a woman who had fought her way through the ranks, took me under her wing."
“She taught me that I didn’t have to stay in one place,” she added. “She showed me how to be assertive, confident and how to push past the stereotypes of how women in leadership should behave."
For Turchi, mentorship has looked a little different. "I’ve never had an official mentor, but I’ve built what I call a ‘board of directors’ — a group of trusted individuals who help me navigate my career and challenges,” she explained. “While I haven't been a mentee in the traditional sense, I believe deeply in coaching and developing my team. I want them to be better than I am, and I take great pride in mentoring them."
McNair shared a personal experience that shaped her approach to mentorship. "My first mentor never told me they were mentoring me, and when I finally realized it, they told me, ‘If you didn’t know I was mentoring you, I wasn’t doing a good enough job,’” she recalled. “That transparency shaped my own approach; mentorship is about guiding others, sometimes in ways they don’t even realize at first."
McNair also reflected on the transformative power of the resource group, describing how a single mention of mentorship ignited a wave of engagement. Once one person expressed the need, the conversation took off, with attendees sharing experiences, offering guidance and making meaningful connections in real time.
"It was one of those times where you know that you have met your peeps, and I’m not referring to women,” she explained. “I’m referring to the environment, the atmosphere, and as a person first —not just a woman — a person who knows what it's like to be looking for the opportunity for a mentor, for a friend, for someone who can be a sounding board, a support, a foundation."
Embracing vulnerability as a strength
Vulnerability and its role in leaders have emerged as a significant discussion in the group. "Sometimes we mistake vulnerability for weakness, but in reality, being vulnerable allows you to build trust, foster genuine connections and ultimately grow as a leader,” noted Turchi.
McNair shared how embracing authenticity has shaped her leadership. "I used to think vulnerability had no place in leadership, but I’ve learned that being authentic — whether that means admitting challenges, sharing personal experiences or simply being open — makes you a stronger leader,” she explained. “In Denver [at the 2024 Leaders Conference], I had to use a cane due to an injury, and I turned it into a fashion statement rather than a limitation. That’s what we, as women leaders, can do: own our stories, our struggles and our strengths."
Recently, Turchi’s willingness to be vulnerable about her feelings around recent immigration policy changes opened the door to deeper connections. "As an immigrant from Colombia, I shared my fears despite being a U.S. citizen," she recalled. "It wasn’t about needing legal advice, it was about acknowledging a deep-seated fear that many others in our community also feel.”
The authenticity and support of the group in that moment reinforced for Turchi the power of these connections. "I never thought in a million years that conversation would come up in that setting," she admitted. "And yet, there was something inside me that said, 'Let me share this.' That moment was surprising, powerful and incredibly meaningful."
Looking ahead
As the Women Leaders in Healthcare resource group grows, the facilitators are excited about the future. "I want this to be a safe space where women can learn, share and support one another," Turchi said. "It’s about creating a legacy and a space that continues to grow and empower women long after we’ve moved on."
"In private practice, you’re often on an island,” stated Mongillo. “This group is about finding people who can help you navigate challenges and learn from different perspectives, and the diversity of experiences among our members is invaluable.”
McNair summed up the group’s mission succinctly. "If you're hesitant to join, you’re slowing down your own path to success,” she remarked. “This resource group isn’t the end of your journey, but it can be the most empowering, enlightening and supportive step you take."
The MGMA Women Leaders in Healthcare resource group provides a vital space where these leaders no longer must navigate their careers alone. More than just a networking opportunity, the group serves as a community where they can find mentorship, share challenges and build meaningful connections that cultivate both professional and personal growth.
Join the conversation
The next meeting of the Women Leaders in Healthcare resource group will be take place online on April 18 at 9:00 a.m. Sign up to start making those crucial connections that will support your career trajectory.
Learn more: MGMA Member Resource Groups
MGMA’s Member Resource Groups were launched as a commitment to facilitating inclusion and belonging within the healthcare management profession. These groups quickly became a valuable part of the MGMA community, providing safe, supportive environments where members could engage in meaningful conversations about career growth, professional challenges and industry leadership with their peers. Based on the overwhelming success of in-person resource groups at the 2023 and 2024 Leaders Conferences, MGMA expanded these efforts to include quarterly virtual meetings, ensuring that members could maintain and build these connections year-round.
"Resource groups give our members a unique opportunity to network within the healthcare space and also with shared demographics that aren't just role or job based,” explained Amanda Jensen, Sr. Manager, Member Engagement, at MGMA, who was instrumental in helping get these groups off the ground. “Also, recruiting MGMA member volunteers from these demographics to lead the groups was huge — it just wouldn’t work without that component."
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