Women in Healthcare – International Women’s Day 2021

International Women’s Day is a global day that celebrates the achievements of women and raises awareness for gender equality. Today and every day, Smith Chason is celebrating the hundreds of Smith Chason faculty, staff, students, and alumni that identify as women who have made such a significant impact on our education and healthcare system, and the nursing field.

Female Co-Founded

Smith Chason School Nursing was co-founded by Myra Chason, BS, BSN, RDMS, a well-known nurse and diagnostic medical sonography instructor, and Dr. Neville Smith, M.D., a board-certified radiologist. Myra Chason and Dr. Neville Smith shared one passion and goal, to develop a college that provided the highest quality nursing education to our communities. In the beginnings of Smith Chason, Myra took on teaching lecture and lab courses, helping enroll new students, developing curriculum, all while running a new college.

Today, she leads three Smith Chason campuses, now in Los Angeles, California, Ontario, California, and Phoenix, Arizona. Program offerings have grown, with eight Bachelors, Associates, and diploma programs, with more on the way. In addition, the curriculum continues to adapt to changes in the industry to support our student’s career goals.

Women at Smith Chason

Every year Smith Chason School of Nursing is expanding, with additions of new Directors, educators, and staff to support our growth. As of March 2021, 61% of our faculty and staff members at all three Smith Chason campuses identify as female. Our female-identifying team members are in a range of roles at the corporate and campus level. Including, Campus Directors, Director of Education, Program Directors, Corporate Leaders, Department Directors, Instructors, and more.

According to our September 2020 student population report, 81% of students attending all three Smith Chason campuses at that time identified as female. Of that 81 percent, 73% identified as a Person of Color (POC). Our female-identifying students were enrolled in full-range of programs including:

• Vocational Nursing,
• Practical Nursing,

Women in Nursing

According to the 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020 90% of Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPN & LVN) were women. Women are dominating the nursing field. They are the ones on the frontlines protecting our families and friends while risking their own health.

We Support You

Smith Chason is celebrating these women. They are our Smith Chason Family and they have made a significant impact on Smith Chason’s education and our healthcare system. We stand with them and support them as we work towards a society of gender equality and recognize their strength. We will continue to work hard to produce a welcome and equal environment for them, to lift them up towards their goals, and break those glass ceilings.

Smith Chason School of Nursing wants to recognize all the amazing women in the healthcare field for the supportive care they’ve provided our communities through the pandemic. Women are on the frontlines making a significant impact on the health and minds of our communities. From nurses to educators, to nursing leaders, and everything in between. We applaud and support the women in our community for their talents, diversity, leadership, and dedication to education and healthcare.

We invite everyone to celebrate these women. Support their career and passion, stand up for them to forge a gender-equal world.