Women of Peace
Grit. Courage. Compassion.
These traits motivated the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace to start the frontier hospitals that would become PeaceHealth. More than 130 years later, the same spirit drives Women of Peace, a growing movement to help our female leaders soar.
About Women of Peace
Building on our rich heritage of female caregivers
“We have an opportunity — and a duty — to do more for the women of this organization, to ensure they feel seen, heard, valued and invested in.” — Liz Dunne, PeaceHealth President and CEO
Made up of female leaders from across our health system, Women of Peace honors the grit and determination of our foundresses while positioning today’s female caregivers for future success.
Why? Because women make up nearly 80% of PeaceHealth’s workforce. Yet research shows that women in the U.S. are far less likely to be promoted to manager roles. This “broken rung” of the career ladder makes it extremely hard for women to reach more senior levels.
Women of Peace aims to not just mend this broken rung, but also define a clear upward path through professional development, events, wraparound support and advocacy for gender equity. This work is vital to our healing Mission. Its goal is to leave PeaceHealth better than we found it for the next generation.
From our executive sponsor
Sarah Ness, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer
PeaceHealth is a female-founded and female-led organization. As we follow in the footsteps of our founding Sisters, it is our duty as courageous female leaders to ensure that we create an environment where every woman feels empowered to step into her greatest potential.
The research is clear: Women feel less comfortable taking the leap of faith into their next role. Compared to their male counterparts, women tend to need to be tapped on the shoulder and reassured that they are ready — they can take that next step.
Women of Peace is about helping the workforce that we have thrive, and continuing to be an employer of choice for new employees, by ensuring that our caregivers have the career progression and pathways to stay at PeaceHealth throughout their career journey.
The overall message is that “you can do hard things — great things — and personally thrive while helping this organization thrive.”
The beauty of this program is in seeing what we can all accomplish together. It’s time to soar!
Warmly,
Events and activities
Throughout the year, Women of Peace convenes events and hosts activities that foster connection among our members. These include:
- Community gatherings. Beginning in late 2024, Women of Peace has been hosting changemaker events for female leaders from PeaceHealth’s communities in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. These gatherings offer a chance to:
- Learn from inspiring speakers and share wisdom with each other
- Rest and reset with like-minded women in the organization
- Strengthen our support networks
- Social responsibility. Just as we recognize women leaders and changemakers inside of PeaceHealth, Women of Peace also shines a spotlight on the courageous work of women-led nonprofits in our communities. In honor of their efforts to advance health justice and respect for all, our fall 2024 gathering included a $105,000 donation, split among nonprofits in each of our three networks. The leaders accepting the awards were:
- Marcela Leonor Suárez Díaz, founder, Oasis in Bellingham, Washington.
- Brittini Lasseigne, chief executive officer, YWCA Clark County in Vancouver, Washington.
- Drea Smith, co-owner and founder, Tip Tap Grow Performing Arts Preschool in Eugene, Oregon.
Press and social media mentions
The Women of Peace movement is also earning recognition outside of PeaceHealth. Follow the story via our press coverage and social media mentions:
- Becker’s Hospital Review: PeaceHealth's push to bolster women's careers
- LinkedIn:
Women of Peace profiles
Meet our fierce female caregivers
Whether in direct patient care or through administrative roles, the women of PeaceHealth carry with them a deep commitment to our core values of respect, social justice and support for community health. Here are some of their stories.
Elva Sipin, system vice president of clinical services
“It's really about not competing, but rather collaborating. How do you reaffirm each other? That, to me, is more important. A support system is so important.”
Jill Hill, RN, house supervisor, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
“I think with women caregivers there is an innate desire and drive to care for, to heal and to nurture.”
Sarah Cook, RN, chief administrative officer, PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center
“I never want to bring somebody down. I just want to make them look amazing. It's not to make myself look better. It's to make us to look great as a group.”
Tawnya Heredia, RN, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
“Just know that we're all in it together. A little word of encouragement can go a really long way. You're not alone. We're taking care of whatever you need. We are there for you.”
Trevecca Winters, supervisor, medical social work, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center – Riverbend
“I'm always like, ‘what would the Sisters do?’ It reminds me that the mission is to help people. Sometimes that means pushing a boundary that might feel a bit uncomfortable for some.”
Rachel Bishop, MD, system medical director, clinician well-being
“The job of being a physician is a very human experience. You naturally care about everyone around you. But we’re also human beings, and we have to stop and take care of ourselves, too.”
Denise Gideon, system vice president of operations, integration and implementation
“In order to recognize the uniqueness of each one of us, you have to have your eyes open and your heart open. ...We all have the opportunity and the ability to change, not only our own trajectory, but the lives of others."
Nominate a Woman of Peace
Our health system is full of courageous women who embody our founding Sisters’ compassion, values and commitment to caring for others.
We invite PeaceHealth caregivers to nominate a co-worker to be part of the Women of Peace movement. If selected, we’ll tell the story of that caregiver, recognizing her inspiration, her real-life successes, triumphs and words of wisdom.
Programming and support
For the leaders of today and tomorrow
Whole-person support. Resources such as respite spaces in our hospitals and support networks across the organization that address the challenges and opportunities women face in their professional and personal lives.
Spotlight and recognition. Opportunities for visibility and leadership that champion women's voices and contributions within PeaceHealth.
Gender equity and empowerment. Sustainable initiatives that promote equality and the advancement of women's rights internally and externally.
Mentorship. Networking and knowledge-sharing where experienced women caregivers pass on their expertise to the next generation of female leaders.
Advocacy. Bringing forward policies and practices that promote gender equity, diversity and inclusion in healthcare and society at large, to benefit future generations of women.
Join our team
PeaceHealth employees care deeply for our patients and our communities. That’s why when you join us you’ll be known as a “caregiver” even if you’re in a nonclinical role. In return for your dedication, we offer many ways for you to be your best self, at work and at home.
To learn more about our workplace culture, benefits and open positions, visit the PeaceHealth careers portal.