Episode Overview
When Dr. Susan Blumenthal ignited a cross-governmental effort to move imaging technology from missiles to mammograms, she did more than innovate—she demonstrated how conviction, creativity, and coalition-building can transform women’s health. In this powerful conversation, Leigh speaks with the trailblazing physician and public health leader about her decades of service across Democratic and Republican administrations, her deeply personal journey into women’s health advocacy, and her extraordinary ability to look around corners while building bridges across political and institutional divides. Dr. Blumenthal makes a compelling case that women’s health and women’s empowerment are directly linked to the health and stability of entire societies—and offers practical wisdom for staying grounded in values while navigating complex, polarized environments.
She talks candidly about “staying the course” when the path ahead feels unclear and shares the remarkable story of how her initial call to the then-Director of the CIA set in motion a collaborative effort across her department, the CIA, and the Department of Defense to unlock momentum for women’s health and breast cancer detection—an approach that ultimately benefited tens of millions of women around the world #mammograms!
One core theme we discuss (and an enduring theme of the podcast): the power of stories to connect people across difference, and the kind of grounded perseverance that keeps a leader moving—especially when the work is slow, political, or exhausting at times.
Dr. Blumenthal’s insights help all of us navigate the moment we’re in: a time when misinformation, fear, and fragmented systems can sap energy and innovation. Dr. Blumenthal offers a hopeful stance and shares practical insights relevant for everyone—regardless of circumstance.
In this episode, we explore:
- How Dr. Blumenthal learned to look around corners—and turn future-facing ideas into real-world impact
- Why women’s health is society’s health (and why that framing changes everything)
- What it takes to work across Democrats and Republicans without losing your values
- How to respond when support isn’t there: stay the course + go where the care is
- “From Missiles to Mammograms”: the surprising cross-sector story that helped transform breast cancer detection
- Why public health needs new tools for the age of social media and disinformation
- A closing message about hope, health, and what it means to keep going
Memorable moments
- The childhood moment that set Dr. Blumenthal’s path—and the vow she made watching her mother suffer
- The leadership difference between change agents and managers, and why you need both
- A clear-eyed take on today’s information environment—and why communication is now a public health intervention
A line to hold onto
“She who has health has hope—and she who has hope has everything.”
About Dr. Susan Blumenthal
Dr. Susan Blumenthal is a physician, public health leader, influencer, retired Admiral, and former U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, and one of the nation’s foremost advocates for women’s health. Over the course of her career—serving in senior roles across both Democratic and Republican administrations—she has pioneered initiatives that reshaped how research, policy, and innovation address the health of women. From exposing inequities in clinical research to launching national centers of excellence and forging unlikely cross-sector partnerships, her work has directly and indirectly benefited literally millions of women around the globe.
A tireless innovator and bridge-builder, Dr. Blumenthal continues to champion a future where women’s health is recognized as foundational to the wellbeing of families, communities, and societies everywhere.
