CASE STUDY
Abbott – Growing global relationships through a panel discussion at ESC Congress 2023
Published Date – 11 September 2023
The challenge
Abbott Vascular sought to create authentic connections with women in cardiology during the 2023 ESC Congress in Amsterdam. Their goal was twofold: first, to create space for honest dialogue about the challenges and opportunities faced by women cardiologists across Europe; second, to identify and engage emerging and established leaders in cardiology for future collaborative opportunities. As a U.S.-based company with a global focus, Abbott partnered with Women As One to help facilitate this connection to build global relationships and deepen their engagement with women cardiologists outside of the U.S.
The Women As One solution
Women As One designed and delivered a panel discussion in partnership with Abbott, focusing on leadership in cardiology and creating an inclusive environment for knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration. The panel featured prominent voices in cardiovascular medicine, including both women and male allies, underscoring the importance of shared responsibility in advancing gender equity in the field.
To bring this vision to life, Women As One managed end-to-end event logistics. This included securing a high-visibility venue within the ESC Congress center, managing event marketing and registration, and providing all on-site support. To ensure strong participation from women in cardiology, Women As One tapped into its global Talent Directory, which comprises over 2,600 women cardiologists, inviting those attending the ESC Congress to contribute their voices to the discussion.
A highlight of the event was a presentation by Dr. Oksana Marchenko, a Ukrainian cardiologist and alumna of the Women As One CLIMB program. Dr. Marchenko shared her experience supporting displaced Ukrainian physicians in the UK, adding a powerful perspective on leadership, resilience, and the global nature of challenges faced by women in medicine.
The results
The panel discussion drew more than 200 attendees and created a highly engaged and enthusiastic atmosphere. For Abbott, the session offered a valuable opportunity to listen to and learn from women cardiologists working in diverse clinical, cultural, and geographical contexts. By bringing together thought leaders and emerging talent in cardiology, the event built global relationships, laid the foundation for future collaboration and reinforced Abbott’s commitment to supporting gender equity in cardiovascular medicine.
Working with Women As One enabled Abbott to build global relationships with key stakeholders in global cardiology and contribute to advancing leadership opportunities for women in the medical field.
This collaboration exemplifies how strategic partnerships focused on gender equity and leadership development can strengthen the global cardiology community and elevate the voices of women cardiologists worldwide.
The collaboration with Women As One at the ESC Congress allowed us to directly meet with global cardiologists in a meaningful way. Leadership is a universal trait that many women cardiologists are seeking to further their development, that’s why Abbott partnered with Women As One to create a robust agenda focused on leadership development in a safe, engaging and fun environment
Jennifer Jones-McMeans, PhD
Divisional Vice President of Global Clinical Affairs at Abbott
Women As One is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the inclusion, development, and advancement of women physicians in cardiology. By creating opportunities and resources specifically designed to support women in the field, we aim to address long-standing gender disparities and foster a more equitable and representative cardiovascular workforce.
We believe that partnerships with industry organizations are essential to creating meaningful, systemic change. Through collaboration, we can amplify our reach, align on shared goals, and develop innovative initiatives that promote gender equity across all areas of cardiology, from clinical trials and leadership to education and visibility. If your organization is committed to making cardiology a more inclusive and diverse specialty, we would be delighted to explore potential opportunities for collaboration. To learn more about partnership opportunities with Women As One, please contact us at info@womenasone.org.
Let’s create a lasting impact, together.
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