Women in Healthcare Leadership: Mentorship, Boundaries, and Building Community

In this special MGMA Insights Podcast episode for Women’s History Month, Daniel Williams, senior editor at MGMA and host of the MGMA Podcast Network, speaks with Cheryl Mongillo, Delores McNair and Paola Turchi, facilitators of MGMA’s Women Healthcare Leaders Resource Group. The dynamic conversation explores the realities of being a woman leader in healthcare today, including mentorship gaps, work-life integration, leadership isolation, vulnerability in the workplace, and the importance of creating trusted peer networks.This episode offers a practical perspective for medical practice leaders looking to strengthen leadership development, build support systems, and create healthier workplace cultures.Key Takeaways[0:52] – Why this conversation matters during Women’s History MonthDaniel introduces the episode and frames the discussion around MGMA’s Women Healthcare Leaders Resource Group, one of the association’s most active member communities. The episode sets out to examine what women in healthcare leadership are facing right now and how peer connection can help.[2:08] – Cheryl Mongillo on the pressure facing independent practicesCheryl explains how managing private and independent family practices has become far more complex, requiring leaders to understand population health, care management and regulatory change — not just front-office operations. For practice leaders, this reinforces the need to develop stronger administrative talent pipelines.[3:29] – Delores McNair on bridging clinical and administrative leadershipDelores reflects on moving from the clinical side into management and administration, and why that dual perspective helps her mentor others. Her comments highlight a common challenge in medical groups: helping clinically trained professionals grow into business, operational and strategic leadership roles.[5:17] – Paola Turchi on leadership isolation and the need for peer networksPaola shares that leadership can become lonelier the further someone advances. She emphasizes the value of having a trusted group outside one’s organization — essentially a personal advisory board — to provide perspective, problem-solving support and honest feedback.[8:54] – Women leaders are still struggling with work-life demands and missing mentorshipCheryl says one of the biggest recurring themes in the group is the pressure to “do it all” at work and at home. She argues that leaders need to stop treating career and life as an all-or-nothing equation and instead build balance through boundaries, moderation and mentorship.[11:31] – Bridging clinical and administrative leadership perspectivesDaniel asks Delores how her experience on both the clinical and administrative sides informs her leadership. She explains that this dual perspective allows her to translate frontline patient care realities into operational, financial and strategic decisions — helping leaders better advocate for resources, navigate compliance, and align clinical needs with business goals. [14:27] – Protected reflection time is a leadership necessity, not a luxuryPaola points out that healthcare leaders spend their days putting out fires — provider issues, patient concerns, payer problems, audits and operational disruptions. Her key takeaway for practice leaders: create intentional time to reflect, review root causes and improve processes, or the organization stays stuck in reactive mode.[17:56] – Vulnerability and psychological safety help teams growCheryl discusses how leaders and teams can create space for vulnerability by not taking every question, critique or differing opinion personally. For medical groups, this is a practical reminder that a stronger culture comes from validation, openness, and separating professional feedback from personal offense.[20:47] – The resource group works because it is confidential, flexible and member-ledDelores explains that meetings are not recorded and are designed as a safe space where participants can ask questions, vent, share resources and seek guidance. That structure matters for practice leaders because it models the kind of trust-based professional community many leaders need but often lack inside their own organizations.[25:03] – “Work-life balance” may be the wrong goalPaola shares a reframing that resonated with her: work-life balance is less about hitting a perfect ratio and more about setting boundaries that fit the day, the season and the demands at hand. That mindset can help healthcare leaders reduce guilt and make more sustainable decisions.[27:14] – Women’s advancement still faces structural and internal barriersCheryl notes that progress in women’s leadership representation has been real but slow, and she points to both external expectations and internal hesitation around risk-taking. Her advice: women leaders need support systems that encourage them to step outside their comfort zones and pursue growth opportunities.[30:01] – Why women don’t take the space they’re givenBuilding on Cheryl’s point about self-prioritization, Paola adds that even when support systems exist at home or work, many women still choose to fill that freed-up space with more responsibilities for others. Cheryl agrees, emphasizing that risk aversion and reluctance to prioritize personal growth often keep women from stepping outside their comfort zones. [32:09] – Loneliness at the top can be addressed intentionallyDelores encourages leaders to seek three kinds of support: people who comfort, people who challenge and people who model the path ahead. It’s a practical framework for medical practice leaders building mentorship and succession structures inside or outside their organizations.[36:37] – Final message: Be seen, be heard, take the risk and lift others upThe episode closes with each guest sharing what they hope participants gain from the Women Healthcare Leaders Resource Group: confidence, safety, connection, courage and a commitment to elevate other women in healthcare leadership.Connect with MGMA:Visit our website: MGMA.comFollow us on LinkedIn: MGMA LinkedInFollow us on Twitter: @MGMASubscribe and Leave a Review:If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners!