Voices in Leadership

WebMD Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, engages in conversation with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Professor, Barry Bloom. The discussion will center around Dr. Whyte’s public and private sector leadership as well as the role that WebMD plays in disseminating and providing accurate information to consumers.

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley joins the program and engages in a discussion with Dean Michelle Williams and former Rep. Jeff Sánchez about ending racism in public health and other topics.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti joins the program to discuss issues related to leadership during crises. He will address his response to COVID-19 and vaccinations, systemic racism, and homelessness.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms joins the program to discuss issues related to leadership during dual crises. She will address the issues of working to confront COVID-19 and systemic racism.

Governor Deval Patrick joins the program to discuss issues related to leadership during the pandemic. He will address the problems of COVID-19 and systemic racism for Black and Brown populations and offer possible solutions for these major public health problems.

Martin J. Walsh, a lifelong champion of working people and a proud product of the City of Boston, is the City’s 54th mayor. Mayor Walsh will have a conversation with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Dean, Michelle Williams about this declaration that racism is a public health crisis.

Michelle Williams, Dean of the Faculty, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Jeffrey Sánchez, former Massachusetts state representative and lecturer at the Harvard T.H. Chan School will have a conversation about the Op-Ed the co-authored in the Washington Post titled, “Racism is killing black people. It’s sickening them, too.” It was published on June 4, 2020. The moderator is Sara Bleich, Professor of Public Health Policy at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management.

Karl Wilhelm Lauterbach, professor of Health Economics and Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Cologne, Member of the Deutsche Bundestag, and an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health will discuss the German response to the coronavirus pandemic with John E. McDonough, Professor of Public Health Practice in the Department of Health Policy & Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of Executive and Continuing Professional Education.

Dr. Patricia Garcia, Professor at the School of Public Health at Cayetano Heredia University (UPCH) in Lima, Peru, former Minister of Health of Peru (2016-2017), and 2018 Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will talk with Professor Robert Blendon about the response to the coronavirus epidemic in Peru.

Dr. Subramaniam Sathasivam, the former Minister of Health of Malaysia (2013-2018) discusses the Malaysian response to coronavirus and how they were able to reduce the number of new cases. Moderated by Dr. Rifat Atun, Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University and the Faculty Chair for the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program.

Dr. Stephanie Ferguson, a global healthcare consultant and Visiting Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will be talking with Professor Sara Bleich about the important role nurses are playing during the coronavirus pandemic.

Boston Children’s Hospital CEO, Sandra Fenwick joins the program to discuss issues related to leadership during the pandemic. She will address the issues of COVID-19 and children.

President Plevneliev is the fourth democratically elected President of the Republic of Bulgaria, elected in November 2011 and holding office from January 2012 through to January 2017. He was named ‘Person of the Year 2015’ by Ukraine for his public and political activity in a European and international context, and received the Friend of Zion Award (2017) for his work as a great friend of Israel, highlighting the courage of the Bulgarian people who saved 48,000 Bulgarian Jews during World War II. Moderated by Dr. Rifat Atun, Professor of Global Health Systems at Harvard University and the Faculty Chair for the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program.

Dr. Leana Wen is an emergency physician, public health leader, and a passionate advocate for patient-centered health care reform. She joined the Voices in Leadership program on January 14, 2020. Dr. Wen is currently a Visiting Professor of Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University School of Public Health, where she is also the Distinguished Fellow at the Fitzhugh Mullan Institute of Health Workforce Equity. She has also served as President/CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Dr. Wen spoke Leonard Marcus, founding Director of the Program for Health Care Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dr. Stephanie Ferguson, in a conversation with Dr. Sara Bleich (Professor of the HSPH), discusses what inspired her to be a nurse, why she became an entrepreneur and provides lessons from her career path and the decisions she made as a leader in global health.

Dr. Fadlo Khuri. Khuri is the 16th president of the American University of Beirut and professor of medicine (hematology and medical oncology) at the Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center. Prior, he was professor and chairman of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine where he held the Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Chair for Cancer Research. Moderated by Howard Koh, Professor of the Practice of Public Health Leadership.

Wendy Sherman, professor of the Practice of Public Leadership and Director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, joined the Voices in Leadership program on October 30, 2019. Ambassador Sherman spoke about being a woman in leadership, public health, and the lessons learned throughout her journey with Professor of Health Economics and Policy Meredith Rosenthal.

Peter Shumlin, former Governor of Vermont (2011-2017), joined the Voices in Leadership program on September 25, 2019. Governor Shumlin spoke about a variety of public health and governance topics with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Professor Ben Sommers.

Mayor Steve Benjamin sits for a wide ranging discussion with former Massachusetts State Representative, Jeffrey Sanchez. The conversation covers the mayor’s path to leadership, starting with Mayor Benjamin’s formative years up through the present day in the Mayor’s office. Topics include formative mentorship, staying true to one’s ideals, bipartisan solutions, and the importance of listening.

Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, spoke with Prof. Marcia Castro on Thursday, April 18, 2019. Listen to hear more about President Santos' leadership journey, and his efforts to bring peace between Colombia and the FARC. The archived video of this webcast can be found at hsph.me/santos.

Jay Nixon, Visiting Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow and former Governor of Missouri, spoke with Prof. Kimberlyn Leary on Friday, April 12, 2019. Listen to hear Governor Nixon’s advice on how to effectively move health policy through legislation in contentious times. The archived video of this webcast can be found at hsph.me/nixon.

Jody Olsen, Director of the Peace Corps, spoke with Dr. Richard Frank of the Harvard Medical School, on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Listen to hear Director Olsen’s leadership journey and learn about her rise through the ranks of the Peace Corps – and how public and global health continue to shape the mission of the agency.

Jack Markell, former Governor of Delaware, spoke with Gina McCarthy, Director of Harvard C-CHANGE, on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. They discussed three priority areas that Gov. Markell worked on during his time as governor: lowering the rate of unintended pregnancies, criminal justice reform and helping those with disabilities secure employment.

Jeffrey Sánchez, former MA State Representative, spoke with Robert Blendon, Senior Associate Dean of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, on Friday, February 15, 2019. They spoke at length about Chairman Sánchez’s leadership journey and his strategic thinking around effecting policy change in challenging times.

Lawrence Bacow, President of Harvard University, spoke with Michelle Williams, Dean of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, on Wednesday, January 30, 2019. They discussed President Bacow's journey from MIT to Tufts to Harvard University, as well as what President Bacow sees as some of the challenges that institutions of higher education face now and in the future.

Joanne Kenen, Executive Editor, Health Care at POLITICO and Margaret Talev, Senior White House Correspondent for Bloomberg, talked with Dr. Robert Blendon on Tuesday, November 13, 2018. They discussed the results of the midterm elections and its ramifications for health care, as well as what it's like to be a policy and news journalist in this day and age.

John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., Senior Advisor and Strategist to the President of Harvard University, will be talking with Prof. Sara Bleich on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Watch the webcast to learn more about what steps Harvard University is taking to building a more inclusive environment, and what lessons can be learned from fellow universities like Morehouse College and other HBCU’s.

Dr. David Shulkin, former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, talked with Dr. Ashish Jha of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on Monday, October 15, 2018. As Secretary, Dr. Shulkin represented the 21 million American veterans and was responsible for the nation’s largest integrated health care system with over 1,200 sites of care, serving over 9 million Veterans.

Rep. Bob Inglis, former U.S. Representative for South Carolina, talked with Gina McCarthy, Director of Harvard C-CHANGE, about his desire to advance bipartisan solutions to climate change on Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

Dr. Patricia García, current Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow and former Minister of Health of Peru, talked with Dr. Rifat Atun about her strategies for effective public health policy implementation and her personal leadership challenges on Thursday, September 6, 2018.

Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic, President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, discussed with Dr. Atule Gawande, what it’s like to lead an $8 billion medical system, the challenging roles that he’s taken on in his career, and his top leadership strategies on the Voices in Leadership program on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

Drew Faust, President and Lincoln Professor of History at Harvard University, spoke about, “A Conversation with Drew Faust on Leadership,” on Wednesday, April 24, 2018. President Faust reflected on her 11 year tenure at Harvard University as the first female president, and what she sees as future challenges that higher education faces going forward. The talk was moderated by Michelle Williams, Dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Jackie Jenkins-Scott, former CEO of The Dimock Community Health center and 13th President of Wheelock College, spoke about, “Keys to Responsible Leadership in Troubling Times,” on Tuesday, March 27, 2018. Ms. Jenkins-Scott talked about her role in revitalizing The Dimock Center and the history of the 'community health center movement' domestically. The talk was moderated by Dr. John McDonough.

Kakenya Ntaiya, Founder and President of the Kakenya Center for Excellence, spoke about, “Empowering Girls, Transforming Communities: The Power of Grassroots Leadership,” on Thursday, March 8, 2018 – which also coincided with International Women’s Day. Dr. Ntaiya spoke about her organization’s “recipe” for transformative change within a community: educating a girl. The talk was moderated by Dr. Ana Langer.

Ted Strickland, former Governor of Ohio, discussed a wide range of subjects, such as prison reform and effective mental health policy, on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. Governor Strickland spoke with Dr. John McDonough and shared his tips for being a selfless leader.

Jerome Adams, Surgeon General of the United States, discussed his path from state health commissioner to Surgeon General on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Dr. Adams spoke with Dr. Robert Blendon on the opioid epidemic as well, specifically on treatment options and what his office is doing to combat this continuing crisis.

Samantha Power, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, discussed her journey from aspiring journalist to ambassador on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Ambassador Power spoke with Dr. Sara Bleich on a wide range of subjects, including combating Ebola, being on the ground during a crisis and how motherhood shaped her time in the United Nations.

Ash Carter, former Secretary of Defense for the United States, discussed his leadership path and advice on Wednesday, December 6, with Mr. Richard Serino. Secretary Carter also went in-depth behind his landmark decision to allow females to serve in all branches of the military, with no exceptions.

Suraya Dalil, former Minister of Public Health for Afghanistan, discussed her journey from surgeon to ambassador on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Ambassador Dalil spoke with her colleague, Dr. Sue Goldie, about how she came to run the Ministry of Health twelve years after she was not allowed to be on its premises due to her gender.

Sally Jewell, former Secretary of the Interior for the United States, spoke about “Nature and Health – Inextricably Linked” on Thursday, Nov. 16 with former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. Secretary Jewell spoke passionately about her love of the outdoors, as well as how she handled the switch from private to public careers.

Dr. Donna Shalala, Board Member and former President and CEO of the Clinton Foundation, spoke about “Universal Healthcare: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?” on Thursday, Nov. 9. Dr. Shalala covered a wide range of topics, including her time as a Peace Corp volunteer, her early career aspirations and best practices when assembling a leadership team.

On Wed., Oct. 18 2017, James Ryan, Dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, spoke with Michelle Williams, Dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, about the art of asking questions.

Karen Finney and Douglas Heye, both experts in the field of political communications, discussed their career path, successes and leadership lessons learned on the Voices in Leadership program on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.

Peter Shumlin, former Governor of Vermont, discusses his career path, successes and leadership lessons learned on the Voices in Leadership program on Tuesday, September 19, 2017.

Dr. Somsak Chunharas, former Deputy Minister of Health from Thailand, discusses his career path, successes and leadership lessons learned on the Voices in Leadership program on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017.

The Honorable Ban Ki-moon was the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, serving two consecutive terms, from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016. As Secretary-General, he focused on mobilizing world leaders around a set of new global challenges, from climate change and economic upheaval to pandemics and increasing pressures involving food, energy and water. He also galvanized partners from non-governmental organizations, faith groups, the business community and others active on the international stage, endeavoring to build bridges, give voice to the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people, and strengthen the United Nations. Born in the Republic of Korea, Mr. Ban’s childhood was scarred by war. Fighting forced his family to flee to the mountains. When they returned, Mr. Ban learned, first-hand, the value of the UN’s life-saving relief aid. “That experience was a big part of what led me to pursue a career in public service,” he once said, pledging to enable the United Nations to provide tangible, meaningful results that advance peace, development and human rights. One of the Secretary-General’s first major initiatives was the 2007 Climate Change Summit, followed by extensive diplomatic efforts that have helped put the issue at the forefront of the global agenda. His visits to hard-hit areas around the world, persistent advocacy on the issue and even a march through the streets of New York for climate action helped to push the world to act. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, adopted in December, 2015, was signed by a record number of leaders the following April 22 – Mother Earth Day – and entered into force on November 4. He also worked to advance the world’s main anti-poverty targets, the Millennium Development Goals, with a special emphasis on Africa and women’s and children’s health. At the height of the food, energy and economic crises in 2008, the Secretary-General successfully appealed to the G20 for a $1 trillion financing package for developing countries and took other steps to guide the international response and protect the vulnerable and poor. He was an Angelopoulos Global Public Leaders Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Margaret Hamburg is an internationally recognized leader in public health and medicine, where she is known for advancing regulatory science and modernizing regulatory pathways. From 2009-2015 she served as the 21st Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. She was also the founding vice president and senior scientist at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a foundation dedicated to reducing nuclear, chemical and biological threats. Other positions have included Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (HHS), Health Commissioner for New York City, and Assistant Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

The former administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy, discusses her career path, successes and leadership lessons learned on the Voices in Leadership program.

Senator Kelly Ayotte served as a United States Senator from New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, she was the second-youngest of the 20 female senators, and the twelfth-youngest overall.

R. Gil Kerlikowske is the former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), having been nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate in March, 2014. When he left office in January 2017, he was the only confirmed CBP Commissioner during President Obama’s administration. He was also an IOP Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Steve Beshear served as the 61st Governor of Kentucky from 2007-2015. He also served as Attorney General from 1979 to 1983, Lieutenant Governor from 1983 to 1987 and was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979. As Governor, Steve expanded the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act and launched the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange, benefiting over 500,000 Kentuckians. These actions together reduced the state’s uninsured rate from over 20% to 8% and ensured that for the first time in history every Kentuckian would have access to affordable health insurance. Steve also successfully brought Kentucky through the historic recession by making Kentucky a leader in job creation. Under his leadership, Kentucky’s unemployment rate dropped from 10.9% to 4.9%, and the state set export records four years in a row. In all, Beshear’s administration announced almost 2,400 new and expansion projects that created nearly $21 billion in investment and almost 90,000 new jobs when full employment is attained. The economic turnaround culminated in 2014 and 2015 by Kentucky winning Site Selection magazine’s coveted Governor’s Cup two years in a row, meaning Kentucky finished first in the nation in economic development per capita.