By Joy King, 2025 TRUST President
I love attending the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST Forum! It’s a unique event that highlights incredible advancements in health care and offers unparalleled networking opportunities. Here are just a few of the reasons I find the Forum worthwhile.
Inspiring Keynote Speakers
Forum keynote speakers have included women who have broken barriers and set new standards. These inspiring women demonstrate resilience, innovation and leadership. Listening to Forum keynotes share their challenges and victories offers guidance on fostering change in our own careers.
This year, our keynote is Dr. Rachel Hardeman, a tenured Professor in the Division of Health Policy & Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, the Blue Cross Endowed Professor in Health and Racial Equity, and the Founding Director of the Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity. A racial health equity researcher, she studies a critical and complex determinant of health inequity—racism. Her work contributes to a body of knowledge that links structural racism to health in tangible ways, identifies opportunities for intervention, and dismantles the systems, structures and institutions that allow inequities to persist. Dr. Hardeman was named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2024.
Celebration of Women Leaders
The TRUST Forum celebrates innovative health care pioneers through various awards, highlighting leaders who have made a significant impact and created pathways for others.
TRUST Awards—These annual awards honor women who advance efforts to boldly transform the future of health care. These women stand out as taking decisive action and positively impacting our communities!
Mentor of the Year—This award was created to highlight the importance and skill of mentorship and the powerful impact a single person can have on the lives of many.
21st Century Pinnacle Leader Award—Presented annually at the Forum, this award recognizes trailblazers in leadership, transformation and innovation in health care. Recipients of this award have made a great difference!
Jean Harris Award—Jean Harris, M.D. was a notable physician, administrator and politician. The Jean Harris Award is presented to a TRUST member who advances health care and exemplifies Jean’s visionary leadership.
Excellent Networking Opportunities
Networking at the TRUST Forum is unlike any other event. The atmosphere is joyful and filled with the spirit of collaboration. Here, you can connect with peers, mentors and industry leaders to discuss the latest innovations, share professional successes and challenges, and explore potential collaborations. Connections made at the Forum often extend well beyond the event itself.
The reason I love the TRUST Forum is simple: it embodies the spirit of innovation and leadership, making every moment spent there a step forward for any health care professional. I hope you will register for the Forum as an individual or as a table of 10, and join us on May 8! We will celebrate outstanding women and connect with fellow health care leaders. I look forward to seeing you there!
Joy King serves as the 2025 TRUST President and is the CEO of the Animal Humane Society (AHS), one of the nation’s leading animal welfare organizations. Prior to AHS, Joy spent nine years at NMDP (formerly the National Marrow Donor Program and Be the Match), where she was Chief Advancement Officer and Executive Director of the NMDP Foundation. Joy spent 16 years in leadership roles at the American Cancer Society, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Operations for the organization’s Midwest division. Joy has served on the board of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc.’s Emerald Foundation and Jeremiah Program. She has been recognized by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal as a 2015 Women in Business, Twin Cities Business Magazine’s Best In Class Healthcare Executives, Greenspring’s 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Minnesota, and Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives.