Women: once and future leaders in health administration

Women in health services administration may find limited executive decision-making opportunities without support for advancement from industry leaders and from each other. Even though female leaders in health services set a clear (though little known) foundation for other women to build on in the twentieth century, roles as assistant providers in American health services have come to be more accepted. This article presents (1) a historical view of women in health services leadership positions, (2) an analysis of the current status of women in health administration roles, and (3) a review of factors that may influence the advancement of women in health administration careers in the near future.