VCU Health System Named A Top Company By The National Association for Female Executives

By Pamela DiSalvo Lepley
Division of University Relations

The National Association for Female Executives, NAFE, has named the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System one of five top non profits in the country.

NAFE's annual Top Companies for Female Executives initiative names those in the vanguard of changing the face of executive suites and boardrooms across the country.

In naming the top companies, NAFE considers the number of women in each company overall, in senior management and on its board of directors, and how the companies demonstrate progressive ways to nurture women's advancement to influential positions. The top companies list includes five nonprofit innovators, of which the VCU Health System is one.

"As one of the largest employers in the Richmond area, half of our top executives are women," said Maria Curran, VCU Health System vice president for Human Resources and Family Care.

"Our organization embraces diversity," said Curran, who also serves on an Advancement of Women taskforce that oversees such activities at the VCU Health System and Virginia Commonwealth University. "Our October 2006 employee survey shows that 87 percent of VCU Health System employees 'understand cultural differences and value diversity.'"

Curran added that the VCU Health System continues to develop and support various groups geared toward female advancement, including Women in Science, Dentistry and Medicine (WISDM), VCU's well-known women's medical professional organization that develops strong female leaders across Virginia. 

Beyond these efforts, the VCUHS has long been committed to assisting not only female executives, but all employees, particularly in the development of work/life balance programs.

"Most of the time family responsibilities fall to the female family members," said Curran. "We know that professional and personal responsibilities can become overwhelming so we try to offer programs and support to help women – and families – achieve work/life balance. Onsite conveniences such as concierge services and accredited childcare centers are just two examples of innovative programs geared towards our busy executives and staff."

Most recently, the VCU Health System became licensed to open an onsite adult day care center for employee dependents, whether elderly or challenged by mental or physical disabilities. When it opens in April, the VCU Health System adult day care center will be the first of its kind in the region offered to employees by an employer who is not in the primary business of adult or elder care.

"We believe our adult day care program is among our most exciting recent improvements and enhanced employee benefits," said Dr. Sheldon Retchin, CEO of the VCU Health System and vice president for VCU Health Sciences. "The program will work closely with the health system Department of Geriatric Services and the VCU Center on Aging to provide support to participants, family members, staff and volunteers."

VCUHS is home to more than 7,600 employees and offers more than 400 programs, policies and benefits focused on work-life issues.

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About NAFEThe National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), founded in 1972, is the largest women's professional and business association in the country.  It publishes NAFE Magazine, a bi-monthly publication distributed to 65,000 members.  NAFE began conducting the Top 30 Companies for Executive Women in 2002, picking up the work of Working Woman magazine.  NAFE is part of Working Mother Media, which also operates Working Mother magazine, the annual 100 Best WorkLife Conference, and recently launched the new initiative the Best Companies for Women of Color.