During the COVID-19 public health emergency, Jill Kalman, MD, and Sandra Lindsay, DHSc, MSN, RN, learned lessons that strengthened their commitment to patient care and influenced their leadership style.
At the time, Dr. Kalman—who is currently the executive vice president, chief medical officer and deputy physician-in-chief at Northwell Health—was an executive director at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic in its early days. Dr. Kalman quickly recognized that the crisis surfaced the most vital tenets of leadership: clear communication, moral courage and unwavering support for your team.
“There were days when we had to make decisions with incomplete information and no road map,” she remembered. “What I learned is that people don’t expect perfection—they want honesty, presence and a sense that you’re in it with them. That’s a leadership lesson I carry with me every day.”
Similarly, Lindsay, who is the vice president of public health advocacy at Northwell Health, witnessed firsthand the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on historically marginalized racial and ethnic communities and widespread health inequities. So, when Lindsay gained visibility as the first American outside of a clinical trial to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, she recognized a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on these health disparities.
Northwell Health is part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
“With my platform, voice and the trust that I developed within those communities, I saw myself as an influencer—someone who could shed light on these disparities, educate and advocate for change,” Lindsay said.
Today, these personal and professional takeaways from the public health emergency continue to drive Dr. Kalman and Lindsay to lead with courage and purpose as they build up others along the way.
Their dedication and commitment to patients, physicians and others are just some of the reasons Reuters named each of these leaders a “Trailblazing Woman in Health Care.” The honor recognizes women who excel professionally, influence the industry, make a social impact for people, communities and industries, and demonstrate strong leadership.
Leading with authenticity
For both Dr. Kalman and Lindsay, leadership starts with building strong relationships rooted in authenticity—speaking, listening and acting with intention and transparency.
“I’ve learned the power of listening, asking thoughtful questions and making sure others feel seen,” said Dr. Kalman. “Over time, I have found that people respond to authenticity. I lead with transparency and strive to build trust by showing up consistently—for patients, physicians and our teams.”
That same kind of genuine relationship building also fuels Lindsay’s public health advocacy.
“The most effective way to fight health misinformation in underserved communities is by starting with building relationships and trust,” she shared. “That means working with people who are already respected—like church leaders, teachers, community advocates or local health care workers—who can help deliver accurate information in a relatable way.”
Addressing challenges, driving change
Dr. Kalman and Lindsay are also motivated by their lived experiences, which have equipped them to drive meaningful change in a complex health care environment.
For instance, as a physician Dr. Kalman has witnessed—and personally felt—the toll of physician burnout, not only on physician well-being but on patient care as well.
“Studies show that physician well-being directly correlates with patient safety and outcomes. Burnout isn’t just a workforce issue, it’s a public health one,” she said.
That’s why she is particularly proud of the work Northwell Health is doing to promote physician wellness throughout the organization.
“We engaged national experts and developed a new framework … built around seven domains of wellness, including emotional and physical health, spiritual well-being, the work environment, career growth and leadership development, with each domain supported by specific resources,” Dr. Kalman said.
One of the initiatives includes implementing “stress first aid,” which uses a peer-to-peer communication strategy to help recognize stress and burnout, coupled with behavioral health resources.
“What’s been most meaningful is hearing from physicians who say they feel seen and supported in ways they hadn’t before,” said Dr. Kalman. “When physicians are at their best, our patients receive the best care.”
As the leader in physician well-being, the AMA is reducing physician burnout by removing administrative burdens and providing real-world solutions to help doctors rediscover the Joy in Medicine®.
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Ensuring everyone has a voice
Similarly, Lindsay’s personal experience of facing health inequities when she first immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica has shaped her role as a public health advocate.
“I remember the embarrassment of sitting in crowded waiting rooms, the dismissiveness of providers and the deep sense that I didn’t have a voice,” she said. “Because I lacked resources, I believed I had no choice but to accept whatever treatment I was given. I did not feel empowered to question anything or speak up for myself.”
Today, Lindsay’s work focuses on making sure others don’t fall into this same position.
“That experience fuels everything I do,” Lindsay said. “It’s why I speak up so fiercely for those who are underserved—because back then, no one spoke up for me.
“Whether it’s organizing women’s health surgical missions or tackling period poverty among high school girls, my work is rooted in making sure no one feels voiceless, overlooked or less than because of their circumstances,” she added.
Learn more about the AMA Center for Health Equity and the AMA’s 2024–2025 strategic plan to advance health equity.
Opening doors for others
As two trailblazing leaders at Northwell Health, Dr. Kalman and Lindsay know what it’s like to be the only woman in the room—or the only woman who looks like them in a leadership role. That’s why they are both deeply committed to building up, supporting and empowering other women across the organization.
And that starts with mentorship.
“I’m especially proud of the mentorship and sponsorship programs we’ve built at Northwell for women physicians and leaders,” Dr. Kalman said. “It’s one thing to offer encouragement—it’s another to actively advocate for someone’s promotion, to put their name forward, and to say, ‘She’s ready.’ We’re creating a culture where women don’t just feel included—they feel empowered.”
The key to creating an empowering culture, Lindsay said, is to ensure that teams are poised to lift each other up and stand in each other’s corner along the way.
It’s important to “find your tribe—people who will champion you, hold you accountable and remind you of your power when you forget it,” she said.
This approach creates an environment where women can work, grow and make an impact.
“I have always focused on doing the work, solving problems and making space for others to thrive,” Dr. Kalman said. “I want to help build a health care system where leadership reflects the diversity of the people and communities we care for at Northwell.”
And Lindsay often reminds other women: “As you rise, lift others with you. There’s room at the table for all of us, and when we support each other, we change the workplace, and we change the world of health care.”
The AMA Women Physicians Section consists of more than 100,000 members of the AMA and aims to increase the number and influence of women physicians in leadership roles and to advocate for and advance the understanding of women's health issues.
