CEO of New MLKJ Hospital in South LA Honored at Women in Leadership Conference

LOS ANGELES - March 10, 2014 - PRLog -- Elaine Batchlor, MD, MPH, who is CEO of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital in South Los Angeles, is the 2014 recipient of the Janet Z. Giele Award. The award, which honors women who have overcome obstacles to achieve professional success and create meaning in their lives, is presented annually at the Women in Leadership: Work-Life Balance Academic Conference hosted by the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP).

"Dr. Batchlor has had a tremendous impact on underserved populations in her various roles in the healthcare industry and through her work mentoring young adults," said Margaret Weber, GSEP dean. "Her mother marched for civil rights with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and today Dr. Batchlor is an inspiration to anyone who has had to overcome obstacles to achieve their goals."

Throughout her career, Batchlor's focus has been on improving health care access and quality of care for underserved communities. Before assuming her current role at the new hospital, she served on the executive leadership team of L.A. Care Health Plan and has held leadership roles with the California HealthCare Foundation, the Los Angeles County Office of Managed Care, and Prudential Health Care.

In addition to a thriving career, Batchlor, a wife and mother of twin boys, also dedicates her time to mentoring minority youth. She regularly meets with high school and college students who are interested in medicine to provide her insight and expertise.

"I am honored to receive this award," said Batchlor. "I have found that perfection is not a reality for today's working women. We have learned to balance our professional and personal lives in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling by focusing on the things that matter the most. Events like this help provide us with the tools that we need to achieve that balance."

The two-day conference begins Thursday, March 13 and offers scholars and business professionals the opportunity to share insights, research, and wisdom about the daily challenges women face in managing careers and families. Batchlor will be presented with the award on Friday, March 14, during the award luncheon.

Speakers include Dr. Janet Z. Giele, the namesake of the award and author of The New Faces of Feminism: Opting In, Out, and In Between, and Pamela Stone, author of "Opting Out": Challenging Stereotypes and Creating Real Options for Women.

To register for the Women in Leadership: Work-Life Balance Academic Conference or view a full schedule of events, visit bit.ly/women2014.

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