Women's Health Accomplishments | Dr. Susan Blumenthal

Women's Health - Accomplishments

For more than two decades, Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, M.D. served in senior leadership positions within the U.S. Federal Government working as a career medical officer in the Administrations of four Presidents of the United States. A hallmark of Dr. Blumenthal’s work has been the early identification of understudied public health problems and the ability to bring these issues to increased public and scientific attention. She is the recipient of several honorary doctorates and many awards for her work and was recently appointed as a Knight in the French Legion of Honor, France’s highest award for military and civilian achievement. She has also been decorated with the highest medals of the United States Public Health Service for “distinguished and pioneering leadership, groundbreaking contributions, and dedicated public service that has improved the health of women, our Nation and the world.”

Today, Rear Admiral Blumenthal continues her public health leadership in research, education and policymaking on global health, women’s health, prevention, HIV/AIDS, and other health issues. She has founded a new field of public health technology and is working to establish education, research and entrepreneurship opportunities for reimagining and innovating public health in the 21st century. Among her significant contributions to advancing health in the United States and internationally include:

Women's Health

Dr. Susan Blumenthal played a pioneering leadership role in bringing women’s health to the forefront of the national health agenda and has made major contributions to advancing the field.She served as the first Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women’s Health and Director of the HHS Office on Women’s Health, appointed for her groundbreaking 1980s work exposing inequalities in women’s health — particularly the lack of attention to sex-based differences in health and disease. Her appointment marked the creation of the first senior health leadership post focused on women’s health. Under her leadership, national awareness and funding for women’s health grew dramatically, coordinating a $4+ billion cross-agency program spanning research, policy, service delivery, and education (NIH, CDC, SAMHSA, FDA, HRSA, AHRQ, CMS). She advised the White House and built partnerships across federal agencies, professional organizations, and the private sector to advance women's health nationally and globally.

Currently, Dr. Blumenthal serves as the Honorary Chair of the Women’s Health and Technology Program and Fund (WHx) at the MIT Media Lab that is revolutionizing women's health through interdisciplinary innovation and is a member of the Gates Foundation Innovation Equity Forum that convenes a broad range of stakeholders to advance women’s health.

Key National Leadership and Impact

Established and led the HHS Office on Women’s Health, the first federal-level entity to integrate women’s health across government.

Mobilized all HHS agencies, appointing regional and federal women’s health coordinators and convening the first regional and national women’s health conferences.

Advised the White House on women’s health, working closely with the First Lady on breast cancer initiatives and public education campaigns.

Increased women’s health funding by 30% in four years, supporting comprehensive initiatives across multiple federal agencies.

Developed the first cross-cutting federal women’s health policy agenda, integrating research, education, service delivery, and prevention.

Institutional Innovations and National Programs

Founded the National Centers of Excellence in Women’s Health at 18 academic medical centers, pioneering integrated women’s health care, research, and education models.

Co-chaired the National Breast Cancer Action Plan, initiating cross-sector partnerships to accelerate innovation in breast cancer research and treatment.

Directed the “Missiles to Mammograms” initiative, applying imaging technologies from NASA, DOD, and CIA to improve early breast cancer detection.

Chaired federal committees addressing women’s health, breast cancer, and environmental health impacts.

Technology and Public Access

Established the National Women’s Health Information Center (4woman.gov / womenshealth.gov), the first federal online portal for health information, with an integrated toll-free hotline (800-994-WOMAN).

Launched additional award-winning public health portals, including: 4collegewomen.org (college women’s health), Nutrition.gov, SafeYouth.org, and GlobalHealth.gov.

Policy, Prevention, and Public Awareness

Was a major force in securing the inclusion of women in clinical trials at NIH and was a negotiator in policy changes with the FDA to require sex-specific data analysis.

Led national education campaigns on obesity, eating disorders, osteoporosis, and smoking prevention — including a Girl Scouts merit badge initiative, announced at the White House with the First Lady.

Promoted women’s heart health, partnering with the American Heart Association to produce the first national television special on women and heart disease.

Established and chaired a Federal Coordinating Committee on the Environment and Women’s Health, = to examine risks and policy responses.

Directed and chaired the Healthy Women 2000 initiative, a public health education campaign that convened national conferences on diseases affecting women including cancer, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune conditions, and menopause.

Served as the Host and Medical Director of a 13-part award winning television program on women’s health issues.

Participated in the White House Health Reform Task Force, advocating for women’s health priorities in national policy.

Contributed to shaping Healthy People 2010 goals, ensuring women’s health and sex-based differences were embedded in national health objectives.

Equity and Underserved Populations

Founded the Minority Women’s Health Initiative, leading the first federal conference on minority women’s health and working to eliminate disparities.

Launched adolescent and college women’s health initiatives, addressing prevention, reproductive health, mental health, and education.

Co-chaired the HHS Steering Committee on Domestic Violence, building national strategies in partnership with legal and health organizations.

Global Women's Health Leadership

Represented the U.S. internationally, serving as the U.S. delegate to the WHO Global Commission on Women’s Health.
Organized and chaired conferences with Canada and Mexico on women’s health.

Dr. Blumenthal served as Senior Global Health Advisor in the Office of Global Health Affairs within the Office of the Secretary, US Department of Health and Human Services and was involved in the national public health response to terrorism, emergency preparedness, and emerging disease threats including the anthrax attacks, SARS, avian flu and AIDS. In this position, she established several international health diplomacy collaborations including a Middle East Health Initiative. The Office of Global Health Affairs represents the Department to other governments, other Federal Departments and agencies, international organizations, and the private sector on international and refugee health issues. The Office develops U.S. global health policy and strategy positions and facilitates the involvement of the U.S. Public Health Service in collaborations with other agencies and organizations. The Office also promotes cooperation by the PHS Operating Divisions with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and provides leadership and coordination for bilateral programs with selected countries.

Dr. Blumenthal served as the U.S. representative on international collaborations in women’s health; convened and chaired conferences with Canada, Mexico, and in the Middle East; and was the United States delegate to the WHO Global Commission on Women’s Health and as a member of the President’s Council on Women.

Dr. Blumenthal serves as Senior Policy and Medical Advisor to AmfAR (the Foundation for AIDS Research).

Dr. Blumenthal leads the health diplomacy initiatives at the Center for the Study of the Presidency, including a USAID funded program to promote health activities between Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

Dr. Blumenthal was at the forefront in the Federal government of applying technology to improve health. She envisioned and directed the development and implementation of several award-winning national resources that provide a centralized point of access to a wealth of health information in the Federal government and private sector through easy to use, toll-free telephone numbers and internet sites. Long before most government agencies had their information online, she conceptualized and established the National Women’s Health Information Resource Center located at 800-994-WOMAN and www.4woman.org. Envisioned and directed the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (launched in a Presidential radio address) located at 866-SAFEYOUTH and www.safeyouth.org in collaboration with the CDC and other Federal departments that provides a single point of access to information, fact sheets, research opportunities and other resources on this public health issue.

Created and directed www.nutrition.gov, an award-winning internet portal to information about nutrition, physical activity, food safety, nutrition assistance programs, and biotechnology.

As a pioneer in health information technology, Dr. Blumenthal was appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Health to serve as the Chair of the Consumer Information Technology Integration Initiative for the Office of Public Health and Science in the US Department of Health and Human Services to evaluate the current state of information technology and develop a coordinated approach to these resources in HHS.

Evaluated and enriched globalhealth,gov, strengthening it to become a major portal for comprehensive information resources on global health.

Envisioned and spearheaded the unique “Missiles to Mammograms” initiative involving the Director of the CIA, the Administrator of NASA and the Director of the Army’s Medical Research Command, in an innovative program that transferred CIA, NASA, and DOD imaging technology used for missile and target recognition and space exploration to improve the early detection of breast cancer. This initiative spearheaded the use of digital mammography and resulted in software that provides computer-assisted diagnosis of breast cancer detection, increasing the accuracy of mammography. It is currently being used in medical centers across the country to the benefit of millions of American women.

Established and chaired a Federal committee and convened many national conferences to identify and transfer technologies from government agencies and other fields to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease including fostering telemedicine and distance learning, pioneering the use of these technologies to improve health.

Dr. Blumenthal founded a new field of public health technology, convened conferences and has been a major force in the establishment of the first School of Technology for Public Health in the world at Arizona State University as well as stimulating initiatives at other universities. This new field engages and trains professionals who are bilingual in public health and technology to design a 21st century integrated, responsive public health system that delivers interventions in novel ways at scale. This emerging field of education, research and entrepreneurship is accelerating tech innovation to improve health in America and globally.

She's organizing a National Summit on Public Health and AI.

Education and Communication

Rear Admiral Blumenthal served as a national spokesperson on health issues briefing Heads of States, Health Ministers, and testifying before Congress as well as appearing as a medical expert on national television and radio news programs. She served as the Medical Director of a Discovery Channel/American Film Institute Global Health Documentary Film Festival, as a Medical Advisor to PBS, and as the Host and Medical Director for an award winning television series on women's health.

Dr. Blumenthal established several public and health care provider education campaigns on public health technology, depression, panic disorder, and women’s health issues.

Dr. Blumenthal founded a new field of public health technology, convened conferences and has been a major force in establishing the first School of Technology for Public Health in the world at Arizona State University and initiatives at other universities.

She is a committed and effective educator and valued mentor for undergraduate, public health and medical students. Rear Admiral Blumenthal serves as a Visiting Professor at the MIT Media Lab, as a Provost Distinguished Professor at Northeastern University, and as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown and Tufts University Schools of Medicine. Additionally, she has served as the Lila Wallis Distinguished Professor of Women’s Studies at Cornell School of Medicine, as the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Women’s Studies at Brandeis University, as the Bundy Visiting Professor and Elizabeth Blackwell Lecturer at the Mayo Clinic, as Visiting Professor at Stanford University in Washington and as a Fellow at Harvard University School of Government.

Dr. Blumenthal has received many awards and medals including honorary doctorates for her outstanding leadership and distinguished contributions to improving health in the United States. She has been named by the New York Times as one of the top twelve doctors in the women’s health field and by the Medical Herald as one of the twenty most influential women in medicine.

Dr. Blumenthal has authored numerous publications and edited several books including Suicide over the Life Cycle. She served as the Scientific Editor of the Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Suicide, contributed to the Surgeon General’s Call to Action on Obesity Prevention,and as a member of the editorial boards of scientific journals including the Journal of Women’s Health.

Dr. Blumenthal serves as the health columnist for U.S. News and World Report and Elle magazines.

Dr. Blumenthal’s leadership and contributions to improving women’s health and to advancing national and global health have been recognized with numerous awards including honorary doctorates and the highest medals of the United States Public Health Service and being appointed as a Knight (Chevalier) in the French Legion of Honor. She has been named by the New York Times and by the Medical Herald as one of the most influential and important women in medicine.

Selected Articles & Books

Blumenthal, SJ, Writing a New National Prescription to Improve Women’s Health: History, Progress and Challenges Ahead, Huffington Post, March 2016

Blumenthal, SJ, GAO Report: More Work Needs to Be Done to Improve Women’s Health

Blumenthal, SJ, Women and HIV in America: Making AIDS History

Blumenthal, S.J., “Critical Women’s Health Issues in the 21st Century”, JAMA, 283:667, 2000.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Women’s Health Issues in the New Millenium,” in Lee, P and Estes, C (eds), The Nation’s Health, 2000.

Blumenthal, S.J., Hahn, R., Teutsch, S., Davis, D., Female Mortality Trends 1900-2000: Implications for Women’s Health in the 21st Century.

Blumenthal, S.J. (ed), Physical Activity and Women’s Health, Special Issue of Women’s Health Issues, 8:69-97, 1998.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Physical Activity and Women’s Health,”Women’s Health Issues, 8: 71- , 1988.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Women’s Health in the 21st Century, ” in Wallis, L. (ed.), Textbook of Women’s Health, Lippincott Raven Publishing Company, Philadelphia, 1998

Blumenthal, S.J., “Imaging and Informational Technologies to Improve Women’s Health,” in Proceedings of the Conference on Global Telemedicine and Its International Implications. Washington DC: Georgetown University Medical Center, 1997

Blumenthal, S.J., “Drug Addiction Research and Women’s Health.” Proceedings of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Conference on Drug Addiction Research and Women’s Health, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1997.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Women and Depression.” Decade of the Brain (A Publication of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) Vol. 7, Issue 3, pp. 1-4, Fall 1996.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Toward a New Prescription for Women’s Mental and Physical Health: The U.S. Experience.” Psychiatric Issues in Women, Bailliere’s Clinical Psychiatry, London, England, 1996.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Commentary: Smoking v. Women’s Health — The Challenge Ahead.” JAMWA 51:8, 1996.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Foreword,” in BMDO Technology Applications in Biomedicine, Arlington VA: Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, U.S. Department of Defense, 1996.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Women’s Mental Health: The New National Focus,” in Sechzer, J.A., Pfafflin, S.M., Denmark, F.L., Griffin, A., Blumenthal, S.J., (Eds.) Women and Mental Health, The New York Academy of Sciences, New York, 1996.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Foreword,” in Allen, K. and Phillips, J. (Eds.) Women’s Health Across the Lifespan: A Comprehensive Perspective, 1996.

Blumenthal, S.J., “A New National Focus on Women’s Health,” in Epps, R., Stewart, S.C. (Eds.) The Women’s Complete Healthbook, Delacorte Press, New York, 1995, pp 3-14.

lumenthal, S.J., “Improving Women’s Mental and Physical Health: Federal Initiatives and Programs,” in Oldham, J.M., Riba, M.B. (Eds.) American Psychiatric Press Review of Psychiatry, Volume 14. American Psychiatric Press, Inc, Washington, DC, 1995, pp 181-204.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Women and Depression.” J Women Health 3:467-479, 1994.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Gender Differences in Mental Disorders,” J Women Health 3:453-458, 1994.

Blumenthal, S.J., “Suicide and Gender,” in the Newsletter of the American Suicide Foundation, May 1994.

Blumenthal, S.J. (ed.), Anorexia and Bulimia: New Research Frontiers, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 1994.

Agras. S., Blumenthal, S., Bologna, N., Halmi, K., Justman, R., Killen, J., Mitchell, J., Shisslak, C., Taylor, B., Telch, C., Wilson, T., “Considerations for Future Research in the Prevention and Treatment of Eating Disorders,” International Journal of Eating Disorders, 1994.

Blumenthal, S.J., and Johnson, T. (Eds.), Women in Medicine: Career Development Issues, Society for the Advancement of Women’s Health Research, Washington DC, 1993.

Johnson, T., and Blumenthal, S.J., “Women in Medicine: Career Development Issues,” Journal of Women’s Health, 1993.

Blumenthal, S.J., and Matthews, K. “Psychosocial Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease in Women,” in Wenger, N (Ed.), Cardiovascular Health and Disease in Women, 1992.

Yonkers, K., Cole, J., and Blumenthal, S.J., et al., “Gender Differences in Psychopharmacology,” Am J Psychiatry, 149:587-595, 1992.

Schleuderberg, A. Straus, S., Blumenthal, S.J., et al., “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research Issues,” Annals of Internal Medicine, 1992.

Blumenthal, S.J. (Ed.), Forging a Women’s Health Research Agenda, National Women’s Health Resource Center, Washington, DC, 1991.

Blumenthal, S.J. (Ed.), Towards a Women’s Health Research Agenda: Findings of the Scientific Advisory Meeting, Society for the Advancement of Women’s Health Research, Washington, DC, 1991.

Blumenthal, S.J., and Love, S., “Breast Cancer Research,” in Blumenthal, S.J., (ed.) Forging a Women’s Health Research Agenda, National Women’s Health Resource Center, Washington, DC, 1991.

Blumenthal, S.J., Eichler, A., and Weissman, G. (eds.), Women and AIDS: Promoting Healthy Behaviors, U.S. Government Publication, 1991.

Blumenthal, S.J., Jones E. and Krupnik, J., “The Effects of Gender and Race on the Therapeutic Alliance.” in Annual Review of Psychiatry, 4:586-606, American Psychiatric Press, Washington, DC, 1985.

Osofsky, H. and Blumenthal, S.J. (Eds.), Premenstrual Syndrome: Current Findings and Future Directions, American Psychiatric Press, Washington, DC, 1985.