Women in Health Economics and Outcomes Research

The ISPOR Women in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) initiative is open to all ISPOR members who have an interest in the advancement of women in the field—both women and men. Much research has demonstrated that diversity is a business/performance issue not a women’s issue. This initiative seeks to foster diversity in HEOR—with the knowledge that diversity in the field will result in better research and better healthcare decisions.

Women in HEOR Session - ISPOR Europe 2019

 

The Vision


ISPOR's Women in HEOR...

...initiative's vision is to:

  • Support the growth, development, and contribution of women in HEOR
  • Serve as a catalyst for women’s leadership in the field
  • Offer a platform for ISPOR women to collaborate, network, share, and mentor each other

Women in HEOR conducted and analyzed a survey of the ISPOR membership in November 2018. The results of that survey can be found here.

 


Events: Women in HEOR at ISPOR 2026

Join ISPOR's Women in HEOR Initiative in Philadelphia at ISPOR 2026. Activities will include a conference session, networking reception, and dine arounds. Look for additional details to be posted as they become available.

Women in HEOR Session
Prioritizing Your Mental Health and Wellness: Honing Your Secret Weapon
Monday, May 18, 3:15PM ET
Moderator: Shelby Reed, RPh, PhD; Duke Clinical Research Institute
Speaker: Evelyn J Rizzo, MSc; Mobility HEOR
Keynote Speaker: Ebony Dashiell-Aje, PhD; BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc

Women in HEOR Reception
Monday, May 18, 6:00PM ET

Women in HEOR Dine Arounds

  • Breakfast on Monday, May 18 at 7:15AM
    Restaurant: Panera Bread
    Address: 48 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
    Table Leaders: Shelby Reed, Duke University
    Sign-Up Form
  • Dinner on Monday, May 18 at 7:30PM
    Restaurant: El Vez
    Address: 915 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2404
    Table Leaders: Shilpi Swami, ConnectHEOR
    Sign-Up Form
  • Breakfast on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30AM
    Restaurant: Passero’s Coffee Roasters
    Address: 100 E Penn Sq, The Wanamaker Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107
    Table Leaders: Belinda Mohr, Medtronic and Lisa Weiss, Medical Device Innovation Consortium
    Sign-Up Form
  • Dinner on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:15PM
    Restaurant: EMei
    Address: 915 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2404
    Table Leaders: Beth Devine, University of Washington and Julia Slejko, University of Maryland
    Sign-Up Form
  • Dinner on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:15PM
    Restaurant: EMei
    Address: 915 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2404Table Leaders: Eberechukwu Onukwugha, University of Maryland, and Junling Wang, University of Tennessee
    Sign-Up Form
  • Dinner on Tuesday, May 19 at 8:45PM
    Restaurant: Talula’s Garden
    Address: 210 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
    Table Leaders: Evelyn Rizzo, Mobility HEOR
    Sign-Up Form 

Register Now

 

Introduction to Women in HEOR

 

Article: "New Research Reveals Surprising Trends in Women's Health Economics Authorship"

ISPOR's Women in HEOR Initiative published new research analyzing women's representation in authorship of papers submitted to and published in Value in Health. The report, “How Well Are Women Represented in Authorship in HEOR? An Analysis of Value in Health: An ISPOR Report,” was published in the May 2025 issue of journal.

View the Article

Read the News Release

Article: "Diversity’s Role in Advancing HEOR Excellence: ISPOR’s Women in HEOR Initiative"

Learn more about Women in HEOR from the article in the March/April 2022 of Value & Outcomes Spotlight, "Diversity's Role in Advancing HEOR Excellence: ISPOR's Women in HEOR Initiative."

View the Article 

 

The Evidence


More...

Considerable research shows that diverse teams and organizations significantly outperform those without diversity. For example, a report by McKinsey & Company showed that:

  • Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity were 15% more likely to have financial returns that were above their national industry median1

The data also show that women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are underrepresented.

  • Averaged across regions, women accounted for less than a third (28.8%) of those employed in scientific research and development around the world in 20142

Additionally, research indicates that women in STEM earn less compared to men.

  • In the United States, women in computer, engineering, and science occupations were paid an estimated 83% of men’s annual median earnings in 2013.3

 


 

How to Get Involved


Join the Women in HEOR LinkedIn Discussion Group

Join Now

Attend Women in HEOR Events at the ISPOR Annual and ISPOR Europe Conferences

View Conferences

 

References

1 “Diversity Matters” report; McKinsey & Company.
2 “The Bottom Line: Corporate Performance and Women’s Representation on Boards (2004-2008)”; Catalyst; UNESCO Institute for Statistics, UIS Fact Sheet: Women in Science (2017): p. 2.
3 From “The Bottom Line: Corporate Performance and Women’s Representation on Boards (2004-2008); Catalyst. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2013).
 
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