GEETA ANAND ’89
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author
RICKI FAIRLEY ’78
CEO of TOUCH The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
LACEY HORN, CPA, MSA Founder and CEO of Native Advisory
WOMEN LEADERSHIP, LEGACY, AND LESSONS LEARNED
BARBARA ROSS-LEE, DO President and CEO of the EDTV Network
CAROLYN M. MAZURE, PHD
Professor Emerita of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine Founding Director of Women’s Health Research
ANTONIA NOVELLO, MD, MPH, DR.PH, HON ’25 14th Surgeon General of the United States
TRAILBLAZERS
ROUNDTABLE Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | 5:30-9:00 pm | Boston, MA
Moderated by award-winning journalist and documentarian SOLEDAD O’BRIEN
T R A I L B L A Z E R S R O U N D TA B L E
GREETINGS
DEAN OF GEISEL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Dear Guests and Colleagues: On behalf of Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, it is my pleasure to welcome you to today’s event celebrating women in leadership and healthcare. I am grateful to our alumni for helping to sponsor this important gathering and for their continued commitment to advancing women’s leadership across the Dartmouth community and communities around the world. Events like this matter. They create space to recognize the contributions women have made, and continue to make, in leadership roles in medicine, healthcare, and science more broadly. These are fields where women are historically underrepresented in positions of influence and decision-making. Gatherings such as this also remind us that progress depends on mentorship, visibility, and the willingness of leaders to open doors for those who follow. At Geisel, we are proud of the women, past and present, who shape our institution as clinicians, researchers, educators, and administrators. Their work strengthens not only our school but the broader field of medicine – including through the learners we educate here at Dartmouth, many of whom are passionate about improving the health and well-being of people and families in rural communities across our region and nation. Today’s program offers a chance to learn from leaders who have navigated their own career paths, and to tap into how each of us, regardless of career stage, can contribute to a more equitable future in our respective fields. I want to thank everyone who helped organize this event, and I want to thank you, our attendees, for being a part of our deeply meaningful conversations. Whether you are a student just beginning to imagine your career, a professional building on years of experience, or an alum seeking to give back to or reconnect with this community, your presence here matters. I hope today’s discussions inspire new connections, spark fresh ideas, and reaffirm the value of women’s leadership in healthcare and beyond. Thank you for being here. Enjoy the program. Warm regards, Jennifer Hunt, MD, MEd Dean of Geisel School of Medicine Chief Academic Officer for Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
W O M E N : L E A D E R S H I P, L E G A C Y & L E S S O N S L E A R N E D
AGENDA
NETWORKING AND HORS D'OEUVRES RECEPTION WELCOME Lisa M. McBride, PhD
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Gina Lam ’92
Women of Dartmouth | Global Chair
OPENING REMARKS Jennifer Hunt, MD, MEd
Dean of Geisel School of Medicine Chief Academic Officer for Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
PANEL DISCUSSION
WOMEN
L E A D E R S H I P, L E G A C Y & L E S S O N S L E A R N E D
SETTING THE STAGE Moderated by Soledad O’Brien
Award-winning documentarian, journalist, speaker, author, philanthropist, and founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions
FEATURED PANELISTS Geeta Anand '89
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, and professor at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Ricki Fairley '78
Co-Founder and CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
Lacey Horn, CPA, MSA
Founder and CEO of Native Advisory
Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, FACOFP
President of the Educational Television Network (EDTV) Director AOF Project Future
Carolyn M. Mazure, PhD
Norma W. Spungen and Joan L. Bildner Emerita Professor in Women’s Health Research Emerita Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology Founding Director, Women’s Health Research at Yale University
Antonia Novello, MD, MPH, Dr.PH, HON '25 14th Surgeon General of the United States
SPECIAL PRESENTATION CLOSING REMARKS AND CALL TO ACTION Jennifer Hunt, MD, MEd
Dean of Geisel School of Medicine Chief Academic Officer for Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
1
T R A I L B L A Z E R S R O U N D TA B L E
GREETINGS
L E T T E R TO E S T E E M E D G U E S T S
Dear Distinguished Guests,
opened doors, the challenges that tested us, and the lessons we hope to pass forward.
Whether you are joining us in person at Artists For Humanity or participating virtually, it is
We will also explore the important and deeply
my great pleasure to welcome you to this
personal subject of women’s health, including
extraordinary gathering of leaders, changemakers,
how women in positions of influence can
and trailblazing women. Your presence is an
advance better health outcomes, address
important part of what we hope will be a
disparities, and expand access to high-quality
meaningful, memorable, and inspiring evening.
care. It is a conversation that deserves our attention, experience, and collective voice.
The Trailblazers Roundtable is a special component of Women: Leadership, Legacy,
The conversation will be enriched by
and Lessons Learned, our inaugural program
Soledad O’Brien, the Emmy and Peabody
commemorating the 50th anniversary of
Award-winning journalist and one of the most
Dartmouth’s first class to complete a full
respected interviewers in American media.
four-year undergraduate coeducational experience,
Her ability to ask thoughtful questions, uncover meaningful
presented in partnership with Women of Dartmouth.
stories, and create space for candid conversation will bring
We created this Roundtable around a simple but powerful belief: some of the most important lessons in
Our distinguished gathering will feature Antonia Coello
leadership are learned through the stories we
Novello, MD, MPH, DrPH, the first woman and first
share with one another.
Hispanic to serve as U.S. Surgeon General; Barbara Ross-Lee,
That spirit of convening exceptional leaders has deep roots at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Last year, we had the extraordinary privilege of bringing together all seven living U.S. Surgeons General for a landmark conversation on the national mental health crisis. That gathering demonstrated the power of bringing accomplished leaders together around issues that matter – and the possibilities that emerge when experience, perspective, and purpose converge. The Trailblazers Roundtable carries that tradition forward by bringing together women whose remarkable journeys span medicine, public health, business, journalism, academia, public service, and advocacy. Each has broken barriers, challenged convention, opened doors, and created opportunities for those who follow. Our conversation will center on leadership, resilience,
2
an extraordinary dimension to the evening.
DO, the first African American woman appointed dean of an American medical school; Geeta Anand, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Dean of Berkeley Journalism; Lacey Horn, CPA, MSA, CEO of Native Advisory and former Treasurer of the Cherokee Nation; Ricki Fairley, nationally recognized breast cancer advocate and CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance; and Carolyn Mazure, PhD, Professor Emerita at Yale School of Medicine and inaugural Chair of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. At its heart, this gathering is about connecting generations, sharing wisdom, and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders. May we leave inspired by the women who paved the way – and committed to creating new paths for those who follow. With great appreciation,
mentorship, purpose, and legacy. We will reflect
Lisa M. McBride, PhD
on the moments that shaped our careers, the people who
Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
W O M E N : L E A D E R S H I P, L E G A C Y & L E S S O N S L E A R N E D
GREETINGS
W O M E N O F D A RT M O U T H | G L O B A L C H A I R
Welcome! Women of Dartmouth is excited to partner with the Geisel School of Medicine for Women: Leadership, Legacy and Lessons Learned | A roundtable on women's health moderated by 10x Emmy award-winning journalist, Soledad O'Brien. Five decades. 35,000 strong. From the trailblazers of the 1970s to the changemakers of the 2020s, Women of Dartmouth span generations – and a legacy – of extraordinary excellence. We are Olympians; Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winners; members of the National Academy of Medicine; Pulitzer Prize winners; MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipients; Rhodes and Fulbright Scholars; Major League coaches and athletes; senators and members of Congress; ambassadors; solicitors; neurosurgeons; judges; C-suite executives; board chairs; trustees; managing and executive directors; founders; and showrunners. And we are mothers, caregivers, mentors, advocates, innovators, and leaders – shaping institutions, communities, and the world. We are not a monolith; we are a mosaic. Nearly one-third of our sisterhood carries intersectional identities – reflecting diverse races, cultures, backgrounds, and orientations that enrich our collective experience and make us stronger together. Today, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dartmouth’s historic first class of fully matriculated women. This roundtable brings together trailblazing women to share personal journeys, lessons learned, and insights into advancing women’s health. This discussion is urgent. Women spend nearly 25% more of their lives in poor health, yet women’s health remains significantly underfunded, with less than 5% of global health research funding directed to women’s health. From academia, business, finance, public service, healthcare, and journalism, our panelists bring diverse perspectives as we explore the health issues that matter to us all. Now entering its second decade, Women of Dartmouth is an alumnae association dedicated to connecting, celebrating, enriching, and inspiring every Dartmouth woman – fueling one another’s brilliance and elevating the College we love. WOMEN OF DARTMOUTH: Give a ROUSE! Gina Lam ’92 Women of Dartmouth | Global Chair
3
T R A I L B L A Z E R S R O U N D TA B L E
MODERATOR
Soledad O’Brien Award-winning documentarian, journalist, speaker, author, philanthropist, and founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions
Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning documentarian, journalist,
“In America with Soledad O’Brien.” She was also as a
speaker, author, philanthropist, and founder of Soledad O’Brien
correspondent for HBO RealSports.
(SO’B) Productions, a media production company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories on a range of social issues. She was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in May 2023, authored a critically acclaimed memoir “The Next Big Story,” and has 1.4 million followers on social media. She has also given Congressional testimony on media disinformation. Most recently, Soledad served as Executive Producer of the Oscar-nominated HBO documentary short "The Devil Is Busy” and the Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary feature film "The Perfect Neighbor." She also reported the documentary “War on La Radio” for Scripps and “The End of Affirmative Action” for CBS Reports and Paramount+, and co-hosted the iHeartPodcast "Who Killed JFK" with the late Rob Reiner which debuted #1 on Apple with 9 million listeners. Soledad anchored and produced "Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien," a national Hearst political magazine for 10 years. She was a founding anchor at MSNBC, anchored NBC’s “Weekend Today." She was the face of CNN’s morning shows for more than a decade and its documentary unit 4
Soledad work has been recognized over the years with Ten Emmy Awards, three times with the George Foster Peabody Award, four times with the Gracie Award, which honors women in media, twice with Cine Awards for her work in documentary films, fourteen times with Telly Awards, and with an Alfred I. DuPont Award. Her documentary work has appeared on Netflix, CNN, Nat Geo, Al Jazeera, BET, CBS, Paramount +, Peacock, and HBO. She led SO’B Productions’ efforts on the Peabody-Award-winning Peacock documentary, “The Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks,” and the multi-part HBO series “Black and Missing,” which won the Independent Spirit and NAACP awards. She works with major foundations such as the Ford Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create award-winning content on topics like hunger, race, and education. Soledad runs the PowHerful Foundation with her husband, which has helped dozens of young women get to and through college, and connects thousands of others with assistance through regional mentoring conferences.
W O M E N : L E A D E R S H I P, L E G A C Y & L E S S O N S L E A R N E D
PANEL GUEST
Geeta Anand ’89 Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Professor at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Geeta Anand is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, and educator who served as the first woman dean of the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in its 56-year history. A proud Dartmouth alumna, she graduated in 1989 with a degree in history and a certificate in women’s studies. Over a nearly 30-year career in journalism, Geeta has distinguished herself as a leading voice in investigative reporting, healthcare journalism, and media leadership. She began her career at Cape Cod News, later covering local government and courts at Vermont’s Rutland Herald. Her early knack for investigative reporting became evident when she uncovered systemic, across-the-board errors made by one of the nation's largest credit reporting companies affecting Vermont residents. Her coverage gained national attention and prompted Congress to pass a new consumer protection law. Seeking to expand her investigative scope, she moved to The Boston Globe, where she spent four years covering City Hall and regional politics and served as bureau chief and Massachusetts State House reporter. In 2002, Geeta was part of The Wall Street Journal team awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for its coverage of corporate corruption. In 2003, she was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for a landmark series examining systemic challenges in healthcare. Her international reporting has focused on development, education, corporate growth, environmental challenges, and global health. Geeta is the author of the critically acclaimed 2006 nonfiction book, The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Million – and Bucked the Medical Establishment – in a Quest to Save His Children, which inspired the 2010 feature film Extraordinary Measures, starring Harrison Ford.
Geeta spent a decade as a foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, reporting from India on global public health, corruption, and human rights. In 2013, her reporting on drug-resistant tuberculosis in India was honored with the top award for cross-border investigative journalism by the International consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Among other honors, Geeta earned the Society of Publishers of Asia best breaking news reporting award for her coverage of a 2016 terror attack in Bangladesh. Geeta joined the UC Berkeley faculty in 2018 and later served as dean and professor of the Graduate School of Journalism. During her four-year tenure as dean, she raised a record $50 million in gifts, pledges, and public funding for the school and launched the largest state-funded local news initiative in the country. Her leadership strengthened support for journalism, student scholarships, internships, and fellowships for emerging journalists. A strong advocate for the essential role of local journalism in a vibrant democracy, Geeta has championed investigative reporting, student mental health, and thoughtful dialogue around complex global and social issues. Most recently, Geeta served as editor-in-chief of VTDigger, Vermont’s pioneering nonprofit news organization, while on leave from Berkeley. She is currently on sabbatical writing a book. Raised in Mumbai, India, Geeta lives in Plainfield, Vermont with her husband, Greg Kroitzsh, Dartmouth ’87. They have two daughters, including a Dartmouth graduate from the Class of 2022.
5
T R A I L B L A Z E R S R O U N D TA B L E
PANEL GUEST
Ricki Fairley ’78 Co-Founder and CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
Ricki Fairley is an entrepreneur, award-winning marketing executive, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) Survivor/Thriver. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, dedicated to recognizing Black breast cancer as a unique disease state and reducing breast cancer mortality among Black women. A proud Dartmouth alumna, Ricki graduated in 1978 with a degree in English and later earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Her distinguished 30-year corporate career includes senior leadership roles with Johnson & Johnson, Nabisco, Reckitt & Colman, and The Coca-Cola Company, as well as strategic consulting for numerous Fortune 500 companies. Her leadership journey was featured in 50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership, a New York Times bestselling business book. Ricki has transformed her business expertise and personal cancer journey into a powerful platform for advocacy, advancing breast cancer awareness, research, clinical trial participation, and health equity. She is the founder and co-host of The Doctor Is In, a weekly breast cancer advocacy series that has reached more than three million viewers and founded #BlackDataMatters to increase Black women’s participation in clinical research. In 2022, Ricki launched the When We Tri(al) Movement, which has matched more than 37,000 Black women to clinical trials. She also founded TOUCH Care, the first and only Black woman survivor-led, 24/7 nurse navigation program supporting breast cancer clinical trial participation. In 2023, Ricki founded the For the Love of My Gurls Campaign and The Pink Table Talk, a monthly web series designed to transform perceptions of breast health among more than one million young black women. 6
In 2024, Ricki founded BELONG – Blessties Empowering Leadership and Opportunity and Nurturing Growth – to provide education, leadership coaching, and resources to Black-led grassroots organizations, support groups, and community leaders. BELONG has representation across 40 states, as well as the United Kingdom, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. In collaboration with AACR, the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, and Nueva Vida, she also launched BlackTNBCSanctuary.org, a comprehensive resource hub designed to help Black and Afro-Latina patients and their families navigate triple-negative breast cancer. Ricki is a Principal Investigator for SAMBAI (Social, Ancestry, Molecular and Biological Analysis of Inequalities), a global research initiative led by Dr. Melissa Davis at Morehouse School of Medicine, where she leads the Patient Advocacy Team. Ricki also founded and hosts SAMBAI Speaks, a monthly web series reaching approximately 10,000 viewers each month across the United States, United Kingdom, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya. In January 2026, Ricki expanded her commitment to health equity by founding Navigating Trials, providing clinical trial matching, recruitment, and navigation services designed to improve research representation among Black patients. Ricki contributes to numerous patient advocacy and research advisory boards. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation and BlackInCancer. Her recent honors include the Patient Engagement Leaders Award, the Dorothy I. Height Leadership Award, and recognition as a Top Blacks in Healthcare 2026 Honoree. Ricki is a proud mother and grandmother. She has two daughters, Amanda Brown Lierman ’07, and Hayley Brown ’14, and is the grandmother of four granddaughters – Belle, Leia, Hart, and Jetson – and one grandson, Rome. Her family remains a profound source of inspiration.
W O M E N : L E A D E R S H I P, L E G A C Y & L E S S O N S L E A R N E D
PANEL GUEST
Lacey Horn, CPA, MSA Founder and CEO, of Native Advisory
Lacey Horn, CPA, MSA is a C-level executive, board member, and management consultant with the strategic vision to grow, transform, and position organizations for breakthrough success. Her expertise includes financial services, audit and accounting, business development, IT, and Federal and Tribal government relations. In her board and advisory work, she confronts the rapidly evolving issues shared by corporate and nonprofit boards. She consistently elevates the financial, risk, and governance challenges requiring board-level attention and action – and qualifies as an SEC Financial Expert. Lacey’s global perspective, financial acumen, exceptional business judgment and ability to navigate critical inflection points are hallmarks of her career. Currently, Lacey is CEO of Native Advisory LLC, the financial consulting firm she launched six years ago to benefit Tribes and Native Americans across the country. By combining traditional values and innovative practices, she has acquired or consulted upon $2B+ in funds, driving economic growth. Lacey monitors state and federal legislation and anticipates issues that will impact her clients and those seeking to enter the Indian country market. With her clients, she shares her expertise on matters involving appropriations, tax, and cryptocurrency. Lacey’s success as the CEO of a Native-woman owned company is important in Indian country and beyond. It also demonstrates her drive, determination, and leadership. Previously, as Treasurer of the Cherokee Nation, she was the top financial executive in Tribal government leading finance and accounting; ultimately, her mandate expanded into government relations and operational leadership of HR and IT. Lacey led financial strategy, annual budget planning and oversight of operations as the economy grew and the budget doubled from $600M in 2011 to $1.2B in 2019. Additionally, economic impact reports tracked the sustained growth effect from $1B to $2.17B during her 8-year tenure.
To realize her vision for economic expansion, Lacey improved internal controls and institutionalized systems to accommodate future growth across the Nation’s government and economy. Her efforts also produced 8 years of “perfectly clean” audits during which she administered $2.3B of federal funds. Earlier, she was a Senior Audit Associate in Financial Services at KPMG in Chicago; her career began at Hunt Oil in the Internal Audit and Tax department based in Dallas. As a sought after speaker at global conferences, Lacey shares her insights on leadership and strategy, governance, compliance, and economic development. She was the subject of a cover story in Native Business Magazine; quoted in the Wall Street Journal; interviewed on NPR’s Tell Me More Interview Show, and the featured protagonist for Harvard Business School’s “Revitalizing the Cherokee Nation Health System” Case. In recognition of her life’s work to use her expertise to benefit Tribes and Native Americans across the country, Lacey has received numerous honors including the Woman of Achievement Award from Delta Delta Delta Sorority, the Emerging Leader Award from Southern Methodist University, the ‘40 under 40’ List of Oklahoma Magazine, and the Executive of the Year from Native American Finance Officers Association. Lacey earned a MS in Accounting and a BBA in Financial Consulting from SMU. She is CPA licensed in Illinois and Oklahoma, and is a licensed pilot. She holds the National Association of Corporate Directors’ Governance Fellow designation and its Cyber-Risk Oversight certificate as well as Harvard Business School Certification in Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities.
7
T R A I L B L A Z E R S R O U N D TA B L E
PANEL GUEST
Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, FACOFP President of the Educational Television Network (EDTV)
service. She also founded the Training in Policy Studies program for osteopathic resident physicians and has advised federal and state agencies on healthcare reform and workforce development.
Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, FACOFP, is a pioneering physician, visionary educator, health policy leader, and distinguished academic executive whose extraordinary career has helped transform American medicine and advance the cause of health equity. A trailblazer in every sense of the word, Dr. Ross-Lee made history in 1993 as the first African American woman to serve as dean of a medical school in the United States, becoming dean of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her historic achievement opened doors for future generations of physicians, educators, and leaders. Born and raised in Detroit as the eldest of six children, including her sister, legendary entertainer Diana Ross, Dr. Ross-Lee chose a path devoted to medicine, education, public service, and the advancement of healthier communities. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Michigan State University in 1973 and practiced family medicine for a decade before embarking on a remarkable career in academic medicine and health policy. Over the course of her distinguished career, Dr. Ross-Lee has held numerous transformative leadership positions, including Vice President for Health Sciences and Medical Affairs at the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), Interim Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Inaugural Dean of NYITCOM at Arkansas State University, where she also served as CEO of its Academic Health Centers. Most recently, she served as Director of the AACOM Academic Recognition Program on Health Equity and as President and CEO of the proposed Maryland College of Osteopathic Medicine at Morgan State University.
8
Dr. Ross-Lee is nationally and internationally recognized for her expertise in healthcare policy, primary care, minority health, women's health, rural health, health equity, and physician workforce development. She was the first osteopathic physician selected for the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship and is the founding director of the AOA Health Policy Fellowship program, which prepares physicians for leadership in healthcare policy and public
Her commitment to service extends beyond academia. A former commissioned officer in the United States Naval Reserve Medical Corps, Dr. Ross-Lee served as Officer in Charge of the PRIMUS Unit for Michigan and attained the rank of Captain. She has provided leadership to numerous national organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, the American Osteopathic Association, and the Association of Academic Health Centers. A prolific scholar, internationally sought-after lecturer, and champion of innovation in medical education, Dr. Ross-Lee has helped establish five osteopathic medical schools, leaving an indelible mark on the future of physician education and the healthcare workforce. Her enduring philosophy – that “we cannot be excellent in healthcare without diversity” – has inspired decades of work advancing inclusive, culturally responsive, and community-centered approaches to healthcare and medical education. Today, Dr. Ross-Lee continues to shape the future of learning and leadership as President of the EDTV Network, where she is pioneering the use of technology and artificial intelligence to expand educational access and scale transformative learning. She also serves as a Director of the American Osteopathic Foundation Project Future, continuing her longstanding commitment to strengthening the osteopathic profession and developing the next generation of healthcare leaders. The recipient of 12 honorary degrees, Dr. Ross-Lee's extraordinary contributions have been recognized through numerous national honors, including the ACGME Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, Humanity in Leadership Award, established in her name. Her legacy extends far beyond the historic milestones she has achieved; it is reflected in the institutions she has helped build, the leaders she has mentored, and the generations of physicians whose opportunities have been expanded by her courage, vision, and unwavering commitment to equity. Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee stands among the most consequential leaders in modern osteopathic medicine – a pioneering physician whose life and work embody excellence, service, innovation, and the transformative power of leadership. She and her husband, Edmond Beverly, are the proud parents of five children, all of whom have pursued successful professional careers.
W O M E N : L E A D E R S H I P, L E G A C Y & L E S S O N S L E A R N E D
PANEL GUEST
Carolyn M. Mazure, PhD Norma W. Spungen and Joan L. Bildner Emerita Professor in Women’s Health Research Emerita Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology Founding Director, Women’s Health Research at Yale University
Dr. Carolyn Mazure has had senior leadership roles as a clinician, researcher, and educator at the Yale School of Medicine and in national health policy as Chair of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research led by Dr. Jill Biden. As Chair of the White House Initiative, she worked with Dr. Biden to fundamentally change how we approach and fund women’s health research. Currently, Dr. Mazure is the Senior Science Advisor to the Milken Institute’s Network on Women’s Health led by Dr. Biden, an Executive Advisor to the Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) Women’s Health Initiative, and she provides mentorship as an emerita professor at Yale University. After three years at the National Institutes of Health and then completing her PhD at Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Mazure was invited to join the Yale faculty. She was the Director of the Adult Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment Program at the Yale-New Haven Hospital for over a decade. Subsequently, the Associate Dean of Faculty for twelve years during which time she focused on ensuring compensation equity, expanding family leave policies, and facilitating mentorship in a large and growing faculty. Dr. Mazure’s commitment is to advance research on the health of women and the influence of sex as a biological variable, translate empirical findings into practical and effective interventions, and build public and private sector collaborations to achieve these goals. In 1998, she created Yale University's interdisciplinary research center – Women's Health Research at Yale. Under her leadership, the center was recognized as a national model for launching translational research across topics ranging from cardiovascular disease to cancer, sharing health information with the public and policymakers, and advancing careers of students and junior faculty through mentored training in interdisciplinary team science in women's health.
The center’s Pilot Project Program was successful in producing data for immediate implementation as well as the necessary feasibility data to obtain external grants worth twenty times the center’s financial investment. As director, Dr. Mazure also built an endowment for the center to grow in perpetuity. Dr. Mazure’s internationally recognized research has focused on depression – one of the greatest causes of disability for women in the U.S. and globally – and the influence of sex on the interplay of stress, depression, and co-occurring addictive behaviors. She has published extensively and has had continuous research funding across a range of mechanisms. She provided testimony to the U.S. Congress (House and Senate) on the value of supporting research on the health of women and was a fellow on the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Among her contributions to advancing women’s health, she served on the NIH Office for Research on Women’s Health’s Advisory Committee and the planning committee for the First White House Conference on Mental Health. She has been an invited speaker at national and international venues such as the National Academy of Medicine, NASA, Smithsonian Institution, and the Sorbonne. Dr. Mazure’s honors include appointment by the President of the United States to the Committee on the National Medal of Science, the Marion Spencer Fay Award for Exceptional Contribution to Medicine and Science, and the Bernadine Healy Award for Visionary Leadership.
9
T R A I L B L A Z E R S R O U N D TA B L E
PANEL GUEST
Antonia Coello Novello, MD, MPH, Dr.PH, HON ’25 14th Surgeon General of the United States
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she became the spokesperson, public health advocate and the provider and administrator of vaccines for all those in need in Puerto Rico. For her actions, she received the Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service U.S. Army, the National Guard Merit Cross Medal, and in 2025 was inducted into the Puerto Rico Medicine Hall of Fame. Antonia Coello Novello, MD, MPH, Dr.PH, HON ’25, 14th Surgeon General of the United States, was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a B.S. degree in 1965 and an MD degree in 1970. She completed her pediatric internship and pediatric residency training at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a subspecialty fellowship in pediatrics and adult nephrology at Georgetown University, and at the University of Michigan. Dr. Novello received a master’s degree in public health in 1982 and in May of 2000 a doctorate in public health – both from Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society and the National Academy of Medicine. She also belongs to the John Hopkins University Society of Scholars and the Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society’s Alpha chapter. She spent most of her professional career at the National Institutes of Health, where in 1986 she became deputy director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. On March 9, 1990, Dr. Novello was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner to serve as the 14th Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service. Her appointment marked two firsts: Dr. Novello became the first woman and first Hispanic to serve as Surgeon General of the United States. On June 3, 1999, Governor George E. Pataki nominated Dr. Novello to be the 13th New York State Health Commissioner – one of the leading health agencies in the nation with an annual budget of $49 billion. Most recently, Dr. Novello served as Vice President for Women and Children, and Executive Director of Public Health Policy at Florida Hospital. During that time, she was invited by the U.S. ambassador to serve as a liaison between the government of the Dominican Republic and its Attorney General to raise awareness for domestic violence and was able to spearhead efforts that changed the previous national legislation. 10
Dr. Novello holds honors and distinctions, including the 1971 Department of Pediatrics (University of Michigan) Intern of the year award. She holds 59 Honoris Causa Doctoral degrees and most notably was awarded as a recipient at the 2025 Dartmouth College Commencement. Among her many prestigious recognitions are the Department of Defense Legion of Merit Medal, the Smithsonian Institute – James Smithson Bicentennial Medal, the National Governor’s Association Distinguished Service to State Government Award during September 11, the YWCA Racial Justice Award, the AMA Board of Trustees Special Award for Meritorious Service, and COSSMHO Humanitarian Award for Lifetime Achievement. She was been inducted into the 1994 National Women’s Hall of Fame (Seneca Falls, NY), 1996 Miami Children’s Hospital International Pediatrics Hall of Fame, 1990 International Women in Medicine Hall of Fame (American Medical Women Association). In 2020, she was listed as one of the 100 Women of the Century in commemoration of the 19th amendment and one of the 100 American Women Who Changed the World. In 2022, the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine honored Dr. Novello by renaming a module after her, making it the “Antonia Novello Module.” Additionally, the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute established the Antonia Novello Humanitarian Award to honor her humanitarian service. Dr. Novello is the author of the 2025 American Legacy Book Award-winning book, Duty Call: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service, which has been recently release in Spanish. She is also the author of the recently published children’s book, The Little Girl and Her Four Uniforms. Dr. Antonia Novello was honored in 2026 by the Hispanic 100 Foundation with the “American Legacy of Excellence in Public Health” award at their Night of Distinction Gala.
W O M E N : L E A D E R S H I P, L E G A C Y & L E S S O N S L E A R N E D
BEST SELLING AUTHORS
Tonight’s discussion will draw insights from the panelists' notable publications:
11
T R A I L B L A Z E R S R O U N D TA B L E
SPECIAL THANKS
Phyliss Aleman | Events Coordinator at Artists for Humanity Vanessa Alexander | Senior Event Program Coordinator Ireoluwatoni Asojo | Administrative Assistant IV Jay Beaudoin | Senior Media Producer Josh Berman | Senior Project Manager at CCR Solutions, Inc. Aaron Cole | Account Manager and National Accounts Manager at CCR Solutions, Inc. Richard Frank | Director of Business Development at Artists for Humanity Derik Hertel | Director of Communications and Marketing Tina Hoisington | Events Coordinator Brandy James | Tribal Advisor at Native Advisory LLC Libby LeBlanc | Creative Director, Loud Mouse Design, Inc. Kimberlee “Kim” Labonte | Executive Director of Development Gina Lam | Global Chair of Women of Dartmouth Mae Leonard | Director of Alumni Engagement Nick Ryan | Executive Director of Operations and Strategy & Chief of Staff Michael Sarra | Executive Director, Strategic Engagement Elijah Sevier | Executive Assistant to Soledad O’Brien Productions Jacques (Jack) Steinberg | Senior Communications Advisor to the Dean Jerome Wilcox | Director of Inclusive Excellence
P L AT I N U M S P O N S O R
New Hampshire 12
BRONZE SPONSOR
COMMUNITY SPONSOR
W O M E N : L E A D E R S H I P, L E G A C Y, A N D L E S S O N S L E A R N E D
ADVANCING SCIENCE
RESEARCH | TECHNOLOGY | COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
INSPIRING INSPIRINGINCLUSIVE INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE EXCELLENCEIN INHEALTH HEALTHCARE CARE STARTS STARTSHERE HERE Driven Drivenby byPurpose. Purpose.Shaped Shapedby byLeadership. Leadership. Lorem Loremipsum ipsum
1 1Rope RopeFerry FerryRoad Road Hanover, Hanover,NH NH03755-1404 03755-1404
geiselmed.dartmouth.edu geiselmed.dartmouth.edu 13
Lead Change in Health and Healthcare Geisel.MPH.MS.Admissions@dartmouth.edu | 603 646-5834