Catharine Smith -173

Success is the opportunity to elevate what other people are doing. -Catharine Smith This week’s story is about a woman who has been leading others since she was in her 20’s. From her humble roots in the midwest to traveling to Argentina, Brazil and Uraguay on a Fulbright scholarship, Catharine Smith has always been focused on social action. The time she spent in these countries shaped her views about how economic cooperation can lead to better outcomes for all, especially women and families. The stories women in these countries shared with her are etched in her mind and have followed her on a career path that includes The Harvard Center for Primary Care and the Clinton Foundation, where Catharine was part of a team that worked with faith leaders in the south to create a deeper understanding of our nation’s opioid epidemic. These days, you’ll find Catharine leading the way as the Executive Director of The Termeer Foundation, one of the most influential foundations in the world. The Termeer Foundation is named after biotech genius, Henri Termeer, the Dutch biotechnology genius and CEO of Genzyme. Created in honor of Henri after his sudden death in 2017 by friends, colleagues and mentees, The Termeer Foundation continues Henri’s lifelong work around finding cures for rare diseases, patient centered care and continued mentoring of the next generation of biotech leaders.