The Women Leaders in Global Health Conference was founded by Michele Barry after she questioned why a panel at an annual Medical Education Partnership Initiative meeting were all men.

[2][3] The first conference was held in 2017 at Stanford University, where it was emphasised that the chief barrier to leadership roles for women was a lack of mentoring.

[8] Stories heard at the conference included the gang-rape of a health worker after she promoted education and family planning for girls in India, and the abduction and murder of women working to eradicate polio.

[9] Speakers included Wafaa El-Sadr, Joanne Liu, Anita Zaidi, Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija and Claire Bayntun.

Speakers and attendees included Agnes Binagwaho, Senait Fisseha, Jeannette Kagame, Paul Farmer, Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, Patricia Garcia, Camara Jones, Folake Olayinka and Joia Mukherjee.