Duty Calls: Lessons Learned from an Unexpected Life of Service

Summary

Dr. Antonia Novello is a vanguard in the United States and Puerto Rico, whose enduring commitment to service has left an indelible mark on the world of public health. With a distinguished career including serving as the US Surgeon General and the New York State Commissioner of Health during 9/11, her story highlights an unwavering dedication to improving the well-being of individuals and communities.

Dr. Novello's story is one of challenges faced and overcome and of shattering glass ceilings and opening doors for future generations of leaders. She shares her early battles with childhood illness and her desire to overcome stereotypes, while also chronicling her meteoric rise through various roles in the field of health care, leading to her service as the nation's top medical officer.

In Duty Calls, listeners will learn about:

● Dr. Novello's early life and her struggles with congenital megacolon

● How she became the first female/first Hispanic Surgeon General of the United States

● Her efforts to vaccinate and provide health care resources to her home in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

● Wisdom and insights Dr. Novello gained through her life experiences