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Just five out of 100 health care companies and health systems across Tennessee are currently run by a woman, a Tennessean analysis found. The survey included Saint Thomas Health and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee, which are locally based subsidiaries of larger companies. None of the publicly traded health care companies have female CEOs. ... Relative to the pool of workers, health care is far behind other industries, said Corbette Doyle, a lecturer at Vanderbilt University who is writing a dissertation on women in health care leadership. Yet the presence of women dwindles on the higher rungs of the corporate ladder. There are several companies that have only male executives listed on websites, and a few with no women on the corporate boards. (Fletcher, 10/23)

The disconnect between health care consumers and executive decision-makers is a hitch, especially since the industry needs more people to get preventative care and pay bills. Basic things, really, for an industry that needs to get paid for keeping people alive and well. Women make up about 80 percent of the health care workforce and make about 85 percent of families' health care decision. Yet, out of 100 companies, health systems and Tennessee-based subsidiaries, only five are run by women. (Fletcher, 10/23)