Palita Lungchukiet is the Director of Research and Education at Bumrungrad International Hospital. Additionally, Palita practices as an Emergency Physician at Bumrungrad International Hospital and is a Consultant in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Lerdsin Hospital. With extensive experience in healthcare management, education, and emergency medicine, she is dedicated to advancing medical education and patient.

In an insightful interaction with Global Woman Leader, Palita discusses the future of healthcare education, emphasizing the leadership qualities women must cultivate to drive innovation. She explores addressing global health disparities, equipping women leaders for real-world impact, ethical considerations in advancing technologies, and reshaping perceptions of women as pioneers in healthcare.

How do you envision healthcare education evolving over the next decade? Which innovative leadership qualities will women in this field need to cultivate to drive this transformation?

Healthcare education is set to undergo a profound transformation over the next decade, driven by advances in technology, the need for more personalized care, and a rapidly changing global landscape. The focus will increasingly shift toward integrating lifelong learning and a growth mindset, not just for healthcare professionals but for all associated personnel. As we embrace this transformation, technical expertise will remain critical, but the emphasis on non-technical skills—communication, empathy, leadership, and teamwork—will grow significantly.

Innovative leadership in this context, especially for women, requires embracing agility and inclusivity. Command-and-control leadership styles will become obsolete, replaced by leaders who lead by example, foster collaboration, and create environments where diverse perspectives are valued. Women leaders, in particular, will need to harness emotional intelligence, demonstrate resilience, and champion mentorship and equity in their organizations.

To drive this change, women leaders should also embrace technological fluency, advocate for sustainable practices in education, and promote interdisciplinary learning to prepare healthcare teams for the challenges of the future. Leadership in this era will not just be about managing teams but about inspiring transformation through authenticity, vision, and compassion.

What role will women leaders play in reshaping healthcare education to address inequities? How do you ensure they’re equipped with the tools and insights to drive real-world impact?

Emerging health disparities underscore the urgent need for equitable healthcare education, and women leaders are uniquely positioned to champion this transformation. The first step is fostering self-awareness and self-confidence among women and minority groups, helping them realize their inherent value and potential contributions to their families, patients, communities, and society. Traditionally male-dominated fields, such as surgery, are increasingly proving that performance and competence are not determined by gender but by skill, dedication, and opportunity.

To address disparities, women leaders must actively leverage technology as a double-edged sword—one that can bridge gaps in access or, if misused, deepen inequities. For example, while the internet has democratized access to global knowledge, advanced medical treatments often remain confined to affluent populations in specific regions. Women leaders must advocate for the thoughtful and ethical use of technology to ensure it benefits underserved populations.

Equipping women leaders with tools and insights to make real-world impacts requires a multifaceted approach. This includes mentorship programs, interdisciplinary collaboration, and exposure to global health challenges. Training must focus on cultural competence, advocacy skills, and resource management to ensure that these leaders can effectively address the unique needs of marginalized communities. Furthermore, empowering women leaders to participate in policy-making can drive systemic changes that prioritize equitable healthcare education and delivery.

Ultimately, women leaders will play a pivotal role in reshaping healthcare education, ensuring it not only addresses disparities but also fosters inclusivity, innovation, and sustainability.

As healthcare training advances with technologies like AI and VR, what ethical considerations do you believe should be prioritized, when training women leaders who may face unique challenges in ethical decision-making?

As healthcare training integrates advanced technologies like AI and VR, ethical considerations must be at the forefront, particularly when training women leaders who often navigate unique challenges such as gender bias and cultural differences. These technologies, like a double-edged sword, have immense potential for good but require mindful and responsible use to prevent unintended consequences.

For women leaders, acknowledging and addressing these unique challenges is crucial. Gender bias in AI algorithms, for instance, can perpetuate inequities if not actively identified and mitigated. Similarly, cultural differences can shape how training tools are designed and perceived, potentially disadvantaging certain groups. Women leaders must advocate for inclusive and equitable training models that reflect diverse perspectives and needs.

To navigate ethical dilemmas effectively, women leaders should focus on cultivating a safe and open environment where their teams feel empowered to voice concerns or identify biases. Encouraging open dialogue not only enhances ethical decision-making but also builds trust and collaboration within teams.

When ethical challenges arise, self-reflection becomes a vital leadership tool. Women leaders can model integrity and accountability by analyzing these challenges transparently, using them as learning opportunities for themselves and their teams. This approach fosters a culture of continuous improvement and ethical vigilance.

Ultimately, women leaders must embrace their roles as change agents, leveraging advanced technologies responsibly while championing fairness, inclusivity, and humanity in healthcare training.

How do you design your programs to prepare women leaders to excel in soft power skills like empathy and inclusivity, especially when they’re leading diverse, tech-savvy, and culturally varied teams?

In a field that demands both emotional intelligence and technical expertise, it is essential to strike a balance between these two skill sets. While soft skills such as empathy, inclusivity, and communication are increasingly recognized as vital, technical knowledge and proficiency remain non-negotiable, especially in healthcare environments where precision and expertise directly impact patient outcomes.

At Bumrungrad International Hospital, we have implemented a holistic approach to leadership development. Our dedicated teams focus on enhancing both clinical expertise and leadership capabilities, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals. We use personalized assessment programs to tailor learning and development journeys for each team member, ensuring their growth aligns with both their personal strengths and organizational needs.

Given that our hospital serves over 1.1 million patient visits annually, with more than half of them being international patients, cultural diversity is both a challenge and an opportunity. To prepare women leaders for such environments, we emphasize cultural sensitivity and inclusivity as core components of their training. One of our most engaging initiatives is Cultural Day, where staff from diverse backgrounds share their traditions and experiences. This fosters mutual respect, understanding, and a sense of unity, creating a supportive and inclusive workplace.

Our programs also focus on experiential learning, role-playing scenarios, and mentorship, which help leaders practice empathy, navigate cultural nuances, and manage tech-savvy, diverse teams effectively. By prioritizing both technical and soft skills, we ensure our women leaders are equipped to excel in today’s dynamic and globally connected healthcare landscape.

What legacy do you aspire to leave for women in healthcare management and education? How do you hope to influence the industry’s perception of women as not only caretakers but also pioneers and innovators?

The legacy I aspire to leave for women in healthcare management and education is one of empowerment, equality, and redefined perceptions. Regardless of gender—be it men, women, or LGBTQ+—everyone must recognize their value and the potential to create meaningful change and positive impact in their communities and the world. Success should not be measured by traditional gender roles but by the outcomes and contributions we bring to others.

In many challenging environments, women continue to prove their ability to excel professionally while balancing societal expectations. However, outdated perceptions persist—expecting women to take sole responsibility for household duties, childcare, or caregiving, simply because of their gender. These tasks should be shared based on individual preferences, capabilities, and willingness, not societal constructs.

I aim to influence the healthcare industry’s perception of women as not just caretakers but pioneers and innovators. Women leaders are driving groundbreaking research, advancing healthcare technology, and shaping policies that impact millions of lives. By creating platforms where women’s voices are amplified, fostering mentorship networks, and advocating for equitable opportunities, we can dismantle stereotypes and highlight women as trailblazers in healthcare.

Ultimately, my hope is to inspire a generation of women to lead with confidence, break barriers, and transform healthcare systems worldwide. By doing so, we redefine not only the industry’s perception of women but also the possibilities for what they can achieve.