Michael Kaufmann of Cardinal Health Named as the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association's 2012 Honorable Mentor

FAIRFIELD, N.J., Feb. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) today announced that it has named Michael Kaufmann, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Pharmaceutical Segment of Cardinal Health, as its 2012 Honorable Mentor. He will be formally recognized at the 23rd annual "Woman of the Year" (WOTY) Luncheon, taking place at the Hilton New York in New York City, on Thursday, May 3, 2012 -- the premier event of the year for the healthcare community, attended by over 2,500 industry leaders.

"I am proud of Cardinal Health's commitment to building and nurturing a diverse, inclusive culture that drives engagement and provides opportunities for all employees to thrive," said Kaufmann. "It's a privilege to be named this year's Honorable Mentor, and I look forward to continuing to work with Cardinal Health's leadership team, our employees and organizations like the Healthcare Businesswoman's Association to support the advancement of women in the healthcare industry."   

Created in 2001, the Honorable Mentor award recognizes one individual each year who demonstrates long-term support for the advancement of women in the healthcare industry, has a personal dedication to developing, mentoring and promoting women in the industry, and who has been supportive of the HBA's goals.

"Mike's passion about supporting the advancement of women in healthcare is inspirational. His sincere commitment to the HBA was prevalent during a panel presentation where he provided ideas and suggestions to help women at all levels advance in their careers. He also suggested that everyone be involved in the HBA. Mike not only talked the talk but is really walking the walk," said Shari Tordoff, HBA Ohio chapter past president.

Kaufmann joined Cardinal Health in 1990 and held number of senior operational, sales and finance positions before taking on his current role as CEO of the company's $94 billion Pharmaceutical Segment, which delivers pharmaceuticals and value-added services to hospitals, physician's offices, pharmacies and other sites of care throughout the United States. Kaufmann previously served as group president for the company's former Healthcare Supply Chain Services-Medical segment, which distributes medical, surgical and laboratory products; and as chief financial officer of the company's former Healthcare Supply Chain Services segment.

In 2009, Kaufmann became the executive sponsor of the Women's Initiative Network (WIN) at Cardinal Health, an employee resource group dedicated to fostering partnerships which create a great place for women to work and grow their careers, while building a sustainable competitive advantage for Cardinal Health. In this role, Kaufmann advocates for female professionals, leveraging his resources, his time and his position to support their success.

George Barrett, chairman and CEO of Cardinal Health, recognizes Kaufmann's significant contribution, "Mike Kaufmann has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in support of women and their career development at Cardinal Health. He contributes a significant amount of time mentoring and coaching at all levels. He has truly contributed to helping make Cardinal Health a great place for women to work and grow their careers."

About The HBA
The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA; www.hbanet.org) is in its fourth decade as a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to furthering the advancement of women in healthcare worldwide. With 15 chapters and affiliates throughout the US and in Europe, the HBA is headquartered in New Jersey with offices in Philadelphia and Research Triangle Park. The HBA provides educational opportunities for women and men to develop cutting-edge healthcare industry knowledge and leadership skills; recognizes outstanding women and men in the industry; provides opportunities for networking; creates greater visibility for women in the industry; fosters mentoring relationships and serves as a conduit and sponsor for research on career advancement issues. HBA has nearly 6,000 individual members and over 120 Corporate Partners. It is widely recognized as the catalyst for leadership development of women in healthcare worldwide. For more information, visit www.hbanet.org.

SOURCE Healthcare Businesswomen's Association