Dr. Piyawan Limpanyalert Represents Thailand on ISQua Board for International Women’s Day
Dr. Piyawan Limpanyalert, Chief Executive Officer of the Healthcare Accreditation Institute (HAI Thailand), was invited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) to share her perspectives as a woman leader serving on ISQua’s Board in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Her reflections were featured on ISQua’s website and social media platforms, highlighting the important role of women in advancing healthcare quality worldwide.
Observed annually on 8 March, International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women across economic, social, political, and cultural spheres while raising global awareness of gender equality and women’s rights. The day traces its origins to women’s labour movements in 1907–1908 and was later officially recognised by the United Nations as a global observance.
As a Thai woman leader contributing to an international platform, Dr. Piyawan shared her perspectives through a series of questions and answers reflecting her views on leadership and women’s roles in strengthening healthcare systems worldwide.
What does leadership in healthcare quality mean to you?
“It means leading with respect, dignity, and shared purpose. As a woman leader, I embrace co-production, listening, honouring every voice, an strengthening systems to ensure patient, personnel, and people safety and well-being.
At ISQua, this guides me to build a culture where quality, compassion, and accountability are inseparable.”
How do women on ISQua’s Board strengthen its mission to improve healthcare quality worldwide?
“Women on ISQua’s Board strengthen our mission through collaboration, resilience, and the gentle strength of inclusion. We connect perspectives across cultures, foster trust, and prioritise holistic, people-centred approaches that integrate safety, well-being, and humanity into global standards.”
What advice would you give young women aspiring to leadership roles in healthcare?
“Lead with competence and compassion. Cultivate a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities to learn. Practice compassionate innovation by applying digital and AI technologies thoughtfully while safeguarding dignity, meaning, and human connection.”
What does International Women’s Day mean to you as a leader in global healthcare quality?
“International Women’s Day reminds us that leadership is about service and continuous growth. It calls for patience, perseverance, and the courage to build cultures of safety and trust. As women in global healthcare quality, we share the responsibility to shape systems that are safer, kinder, and grounded in humanity.”
Dr. Piyawan noted that participating in International Women’s Day as a Thai woman leader on the global stage is a meaningful opportunity to reflect the values of Thai women — kindness, resilience, and the spirit of the “Siam Smile” — within the international healthcare community.
More information about ISQua’s women leaders can be found at: