A Force to Be Reckoned With feat. Maureen Leahey

 ⚠️ This episode contains an open discussion of intimate partner violence. If this is something you are currently navigating or have experienced, please take care of yourself as you listen. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788. You can also reach them online at thehotline.orgWhat does it look like to rebuild your life from scratch — not once, but over and over again — and still show up as one of the most accomplished people in the room?This week, I sit down with my good friend and classmate Maureen Leahey — UVA peer mentor, Raven Society inductee, UPCEA Outstanding Student of the Year for 2026, full-time healthcare auditor, and single mom — to talk about what it actually takes to keep going when the system, and life itself, has given you every reason to stop.Maureen doesn't just have a résumé. She has a story. One that includes surviving intimate partner violence, rebuilding her career from the ground up, losing her father, raising her daughter on her own, and refusing at every turn to let any of it be the final word on who she is.In this conversation, you'll hear Maureen talk about the moment she almost questioned whether she was the right mother for her daughter — and what pulled her back. You'll hear about the provider who dismissed her, and the one who finally listened and changed everything. You'll hear about faith that isn't routine or performative, but forged in some of the hardest moments a person can face.Maureen's message is simple and it hits hard: surviving something doesn't define you. Healing is possible. And life — even after everything — is worth showing up for fully.This one's personal. We think you'll feel that.National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233 | Text START to 88788 | thehotline.orgTopics covered: intimate partner violence survival and recovery, non-traditional student life, faith and resilience, trauma-informed care, healthcare leadership, the patient experience, and what it means to build a life on your own terms.Send us Fan MailHeads Up: The conversations on Scrub Talk are meant to inform and inspire, not replace medical advice. The voices on this show — including mine — come with strong professional backgrounds and even stronger opinions. That doesn't mean anything you hear is medical guidance for your specific situation. Always talk to your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider about your own health. We're here to explore, not prescribe.