30  |  HBAdvantage president and CEO. “She has long been supportive of the HBA and its core purpose to further the advancement and impact of women in the business of healthcare.” Having been at the forefront of the world’s most pressing population health issues, Dr. Gerberding was the first female head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During her tenure at Merck, she championed the development of the Merck Women’s Employee Business Resource Group and was responsible for the Merck for Mothers program and the Merck Foundation. Dr. Gerberding was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2004 and named to Forbes magazine’s “100 Most Powerful Women in the World” from 2005 to 2008. She has received more than 50 awards and honors, including the U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services Distinguished Service Award for her leadership in responses to anthrax bioterrorism and the 11 September, 2001 terrorist attacks. Beyond her contributions to healthcare and population health, the 2018 HBA Woman of the Year makes an effort to share her experiences with other women and advocate for them. As the executive sponsor of the Merck Women’s Network, “Shehaslongbeensupportive oftheHBAanditscorepurpose tofurthertheadvancement andimpactofwomeninthe businessofhealthcare.” LaurieCooke,HBApresidentandCEO LEF T TO RIGHT Dr. Julie Gerberding, 2018 Woman of the Year, Denise Sena, 2018 Woman of the Year chair, Nick Colucci, 2018 Honorable Mentor INCLUSION  |  PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT  |  BUSINESS GROWTH  |  RADICAL HOSPITALITY