An organizational model for female leadership in healthcare. The national centre of oncological hadrontherapy (cnao foundation) experience during the covid-19 pandemic

The article aims at deepening the topics related to the governance of healthcare organizations with prevalently female management. The paper employs a case study approach, analyzing the case of the National Centre for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO Foundation), trying to identify the relevant characteristics that impact operational management. The article uses a methodology based on a single case study related to the CNAO Foundation of Pavia, Italy. The CNAO Foundation is characterized by the presence of a predominantly female middle-management (of the 128 employees, 65 are women, 30 of whom are mothers). Women lead the Scientific, Medical, Technical-Nursing direction. Female managers are also responsible for Communication and Public Relations, Quality and Regulatory Affairs, General Accounting and Taxes, Clinical Administration, Purchasing Planning and General Services. Of the 13 current medical doctors, 11 are women, including the Medical Director, in contrast with the international average, which sees only 25% of physicians in a hospital environment being women. The analysis is conducted through the CAOS model, which allows mapping both the external as well as internal features of one organization. Starting from the experience of CNAO, the framework defines the characteristics of a possible organizational model that can enhance the role of women in healthcare management in highly multidisciplinary environments and with a high impact of innovation and technology. The article contributes to the issue of gender diversity in healthcare organizations, providing the definition of the main characteristics, challenges, and opportunities. The CNAO Foundation's experience, adequately placed in the literature, allows the identification of some best practices of actual applicability for public and private healthcare organizations.