SheRocks: A Pioneering Initiative to Empower Women Leaders in Healthcare

Sheba Medical Center has launched the SheRocks program, an innovative initiative aimed at developing the next generation of women leaders in healthcare. Sponsored by Sheba’s ARC, the Center for Digital Innovation at Sheba Medical Center, and held in collaboration with Reichman University, the program equips senior female doctors with the tools they need to lead and innovate in the healthcare field.

The SheRocks program, initiated by Dr. Gal Ben Haim, Director of the Oncology Emergency Department at Sheba, and Dr. Einat Shacham-Shmueli, Head of the Gastro-intestinal Oncology Unit at Sheba, aims to address the gender disparity in healthcare leadership. While women make up the majority of medical students in Israel and about 50% of doctors and managers in lower-ranking positions, their presence in senior leadership roles is significantly lower. 

Dr. Ben Haim explains, “My thought was simple: If the organization can learn to accommodate, adapt, and change—even slightly—the conditions, the frameworks, and the flexibility, we can lead to a more equitable, smarter, and better healthcare system for everyone.”

Dr. Shacham-Shmueli adds, “We saw here at Sheba that there are many senior female specialists, service managers, or professors, but not many women at the decision-making points or around the management table.”

A Program Built for Innovation and Leadership

The SheRocks program offers senior female doctors the opportunity to develop leadership skills through exposure to high-tech, startup culture, and management training. Over the course of approximately 11-full day sessions, participants are mentored by leading experts from Sheba, Reichman University, and industry leaders such as Microsoft.

Dr. Shacham-Shmueli states, “The target audience is senior female doctors who have a managerial outlook for the future. The tools we provide are both in management and from the world of innovation—high-tech, startups, finance—things that doctors aren’t taught during their training.”

Dr. Ben Haim also notes, “In recent years, I have been deeply involved in medical innovation. I realized that our system is undergoing a revolution—and those who hold the tools of innovation can also lead change. That’s why we built SheRocks as a program for developing female leadership through innovation. In my view, innovation is not a goal in itself, but a means to break boundaries, drive processes, and influence.”

Group Projects Driving Change at Sheba

A key element of the SheRocks program is its focus on group projects designed to drive change within Sheba Medical Center. Participants are tasked with identifying and solving real challenges, whether through digital innovation or technological solutions. Some of the projects currently being developed include: a green program for recycling equipment and waste, efficient management of patient appointments in clinics or treatment rooms, technological equipment for fertility preservation in young men or children prior to chemotherapy, the use of artificial intelligence in ventilators, and more. These initiatives are expected to be implemented within the medical center, making a tangible impact on Sheba’s operations and patient care.

The First Cohort and Future Plans

The first cohort of the SheRocks program, which is already underway with 20 senior female doctors from various departments at Sheba, is nearing completion. The program’s steering committee, consisting of prominent female doctors and leaders, is already preparing for the next cohort, expected to launch by the end of 2025.

The SheRocks program’s leadership and steering committee include some of the most prominent women in medicine, business, and healthcare innovation. These women, such as Dr. Mariana Zamir, Dr. Dina Orkin, Dr. Yael Haviv, Prof. Ofira Zloto, Sheba’s Vice President of Strategy, Communication, and Sustainability, play a key role in guiding the program towards long-term success. The committee also includes leading women from the industry and the business sector—Talya Gazit (PWC), Ruthy Kaidar (Microsoft), Dikla Shpangental (IQVIA), Bella Unger, and other inspiring women.

First Signs of Success

Although still in its early stages, SheRocks is already showing signs of success. Following a personal meeting with the program’s participants, Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, Director General of Sheba Medical Center, invited one of the participants to join the board of directors, demonstrating how the program is already advancing women into positions of influence.

One participant shared her thoughts, saying: “I love new things. The combination of leadership and innovation really appealed to me. I know how much you learn from such programs, and the value of networking, especially female networking. It adds value. It’s a wonderful group of doctors—both participants and organizers. We’re exposed to various fields through workshops on finance, negotiations, and self-promotion.”

Another participant reflected, “Sheba was running this program, and I was very interested. It felt like a great time in my career to think more broadly about how I fit into the organization. Looking back, it was an amazing program for that. The highlight was meeting the other physicians involved—my new colleagues. Seeing role models and peers at different stages of their careers was invaluable.”