Susan Wood: A Biography

Profile by Liza Blinn ‘27 

Born on November 5th, 1958, Susan Wood grew up in Jacksonville Florida. Wood

graduated from Southwestern University at Memphis studying psychobiology. Moving up

the ranks, Wood also earned her PhD from Boston University’s marine biological lab, leading her to work from 1990 to 1995 as a scientific advisor to the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. There, she helped to draft The National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993, a law requiring the inclusion of minorities and women in NIH research. On November 1, 1997, Dr. Wood was appointed as the “Acting Deputy Assistant for Women's Health” and “Acting Director of the U.S Public Health Service’s Office on Women's Health.” 

Her mission was to coordinate research, services, and education programs all across the Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Institute of Health,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the Food and Drug Administration. Ironically, Wood had joined the FDA in 2000 but soon found herself in a dispute with them over an issue of women's healthcare accessibility, leading her to leave the new position. In 2006, Wood was appointed as a  professor at the Milken Institute of Public Health at George Washington University. Last month she passed away, leaving behind her husband and beloved daughter Bettie. During her life, Wood made herself known to be a key pioneer for women's rights and healthcare.

All Photos Courtesy of New York Times

Source: New York Times 

Edited By: Catherine Polatidis '26 and Ms. Brilliant

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