The AL DÍA Women of Merit event is a celebration of women who are breaking barriers and emerging in leadership positions across the nation.

Dr. Marilyn Martinez, Early Intervention Quality Manager at Greater Philadelphia Health Action, Inc., is one of the honorees at the event, in the field of public service.

In the lead-up to the event, AL DÍA asked each of the honorees about their biggest career challenges and accomplishments, gender equality in their industries and their of advice for other women looking to make their way into their particular field of work. 

Here are Dr. Marilyn Martinez's responses:

Increasing access to integrated health care services for minorities and underserve communities, especially in Philadelphia and tristate area.

There has been an increase of women providers, male nurses and women and monitories in leadership roles in health care.

The health care industry leadership has the opportunity to make changes that better reflect the communities it serves by hiring and promoting talent that reflect the community served.

Create a safe environment, surrounded by mentors, advocates and cheerleaders that foster growth, education, diversity, equality and health care advocacy.  Pursue leadership roles that allow to hire and if needed create job positions or/ and develop inclusiveness as a priority and remember to uplift others in your path to sucess.