The Working Group aims to present potential gaps in health professionals’ representation in health workforce, how those gaps may be addressed and what may be potential benefits and opportunities in a gender balanced health workforce. The primary objectives of the working group are: 

• To map the problems and different aspects both geographically, on specialty basis and on generation basis may also be considered an important contribution into shaping a deeper insight of gender equality in health professionals.
• To develop a network of stakeholders interested in the topic and supporting the idea that gender equality and equity of health professionals may contribute significantly both on improving health workforce development and performance, on patients’ care and on health systems sustainability. 
• To develop and promote relevant reports, policy brief and, potentially, guidelines and/or tools how to measure gender equality in health workforce in local contexts will also contribute to topic awareness and practical approach. 
• To organize, develop and promote a relevant session during annual INHWE conference aiming to present research outcomes, policy gaps and guidelines and opportunities to address the topic from different aspects and in different regions across the globe. 
• To invite interested parties to exchange ideas, concerns, solutions to promote gender equality in health workforce in any possible and effective way.

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Chair: Dr. Valia Kalaitzi, Maastricht University

Valia Kalaitzi, Lecturer at the International Health Department, Maastricht University, The Netherlands with an educational background in International Management (MSc). Her research area is on women leadership in health care, diversity and inclusion topics across health and medical organizations. The research focus is to create a body of work that contributes to deepening our knowledge on barriers to gender equality in healthcare; ideally, that knowledge contributes to foster equal opportunities in recruitment, education and training in health professionals; to close the gap for underrepresented health professionals, especially at senior levels, and furthers the field of gender equality in healthcare, which in turn benefits significantly healthcare systems. Her research is reflected in several publications including articles published in peer reviewed journals, in lectures to professional and international bodies and conferences papers. She has taught gender equality good practices within the framework of EU funded projects.  She has more than 20 years of professional experience in health training programs, public health and medical projects and publishing. She is Expert Evaluator on H2020 proposals, on Interim Evaluation of the 3rd Health Program at EC; and consultant in the areas of women’s entrepreneurial development, economic empowerment and leadership. She is member of EUPHA Working Group on Public Health Leadership and on Health Workforce Research, Foundation of King Jan Kazimierz (Poland), UN Women Organization, Women in Global Health, Eurogender.