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Seton Family of Hospitals earns distinguished workplace for women award

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By Kelsey Wilkinson Friday, 24 April 2009

The Girl Scouts of Central Texas recognized the Seton Family of Hospitals as a distinguished workplace for women at an awards ceremony last week. The Girl Scouts chose the Central Texas family of hospitals for their efforts to create and promote an open, female-friendly working environment.

“They are an organization that not only stated they are in favor of women’s leadership, but they also walk the walk,” said Public Relations Specialist for the Girl Scouts of Central Texas, Cheryl Lowe. “Anyone can say they support it, but actually following through with those statements is different.”

This is the first time the Girl Scouts organization has given this award. Lowe said that Seton stood out to the awards committee because of the high number of women the hospitals employ in leadership positions. Many positions including chief nursing officer, senior vice president of community care, vice president of finance and the chief operating officers are held by women. Seventy eight percent of Seton’s employees are women and the company has a long history of supporting women, beginning with its creation. The catholic women’s group, The Daughters of Charity of Vincent de Paul founded the organization in 1902.

“We want to tell girls to strive to be leaders and do good things. So many companies have glass ceilings that get in the way and we ant to point out the organizations that don’t have that; companies that don’t play the ‘good old boy’ game all the time,” Lowe said.

Members of the Seton community have responded positively to earning the recognition. “This acknowledges the important role that the Seton holds in the community,” said Helen Brewer, chair of the Seton Family of Hospitals Board of Trustees, “not only as a place of service to the health care needs of the people, but also as an outstanding opportunity for women in the workplace to advance their careers in the health field.”