HBA Names Reshema Kemps-Polanco as Woman of the Year

HBA

The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) announced that it has named Reshema Kemps-Polanco, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Novartis US, as its Woman of the Year.¹

The HBA will hold its 35^th annual awards event in May of this year in Chicago. Alongside Kemps-Polanco, the alliance also named Jim Weiss as its honorable mentor and Rebecca Vermeulen as its STAR recipient.

In a press release, the HBA’s CEO Mary Stutts said, “The HBA is immensely proud to celebrate this year's exceptional leaders whose unwavering dedication to advancing women in the business of healthcare has made a profound and lasting impact. These awardees are leaders and catalysts for global change, inspiring others to break barriers and build a more equitable and inclusive future for all."

The HBA lists Kemps-Polanco’s work with commercializing innovative medicines and promoting equitable access to treatments as the reasons why she earned this year’s title. She is also noteworthy for her work as leader, helping to bring up other women in the industry to executive roles.

Jim Weiss is the founder and chairman for Real Chemistry, a global health innovation company that uses new technologies to provide solutions to healthcare industry challenges. He serves as a board member on the HBA and he has worked with the alliance in one form or another for the past 15 years.

Each year, the HBA names one of its member leaders as its Star Recipient. This individual is chosen for their work in building the HBA’s United Force for Change. This year, the alliance named Rebecca Vermeulen as its Star Recipient. Vermeulen serves as vice president of global patient networks and product development medical affairs at Genentech, a member of the Roche group.

Aside from the annual Woman of the Year award, the HBA is active throughout the year with multiple projects. Last year, the alliance launched its first Pitch Competition for Women Innovators.² The competition’s winners were awarded over $100K in cash prizes.

In a press release issued at the time, Stutts said, “We are thrilled to have such high-caliber startups showcase their groundbreaking ideas and solutions during HBA's inaugural Pitch Competition for Women Innovators. By shining a spotlight on these amazing women-led startups, we hope to build awareness for the urgent need to close the funding gap and drive the future of healthcare forward. We are grateful to have so many of our corporate partners and venture fund leaders joining us in this important work to accelerate the impact of women innovators."

Weiss, this year’s honorable mentor, was also involved with the competition. In the same press release, he said, “This selection process was tough and highly competitive because we received so many outstanding proposals that illuminated the immense talent and innovation women are bringing to shape the future of healthcare. Initiatives like this are crucial to closing the funding gap and empowering the next generation of women entrepreneurs who will drive much needed transformative change and impact."

Sources

Healthcare Industry Leaders Honored for Excellence, Equity, and Impact by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association. Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association. January 14, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthcare-industry-leaders-honored-for-excellence-equity-and-impact-by-the-healthcare-businesswomens-association-302350564.html

The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Selects Female-Led Startups to Participate in Inaugural Pitch Competition for Women Innovators. Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association. September 12, 2024. Accessed January 14, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-healthcare-businesswomens-association-selects-female-led-startups-to-participate-in-inaugural-pitch-competition-for-women-innovators-302246971.html