Why Most Cancer Deaths Don’t Have to Happen: White House Cancer Research | Dr. Catharine Young

In this episode of the Badass Leaders Podcast, host Angela Gill Nelms sits down with Catharine Young, a scientist, immigrant, and global health leader who has worked at the highest levels of government and international collaboration.Catharine shares her journey from growing up in post-apartheid South Africa to serving in the White House on the Cancer Moonshot, and now leading efforts to close the cancer care gap in low- and middle-income countries. The conversation explores how systems change actually happens, why early cancer detection is one of the most powerful levers for saving lives, and what it takes to lead boldly inside bureaucratic institutions.Learn More About Catharine Young:https://www.linkedin.com/in/catharine-young-ph-d-25959148/https://x.com/DrCatharineY https://alphapodcast.studioMentioned in this Episode: The Cancer Moonshot (U.S. and global initiatives)www.gcf.finance The Dash Poem: https://www.angelagillnelms.com/the-dash-poem-by-linda-ellis/ Similar Episodes:Brain Cancer Breakthrough to $100M Medical Device: https://youtu.be/ex1hDKRPrxg Why Diversity Drives Better Healthcare Innovation: https://youtu.be/lrFVN8oN0g0 Produced by: The AGN GroupHost: Angela Gill NelmsProducer: Katie HartTagline: Be Brave. Be Badass.Websites: www.theagngroup.com and www.AngelaGillNelms.comAbout The AGN Group:At The AGN Group, we believe every individual, team, and company can unlock their inner badass, one brave step at a time. www.TheAGNGroup.com.Social Media Channels:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassleaderspodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/BALeadersPodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@baleaderspodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/badass-leaders-podcast2Want to be a Podcast Guest?If you are interested in being a guest on the podcast, email [email protected] discussion also tackles questions leaders, policymakers, and mission-driven professionals frequently search for, including:How do global cancer initiatives really get funded?Why do most cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries?What is “stage shifting” in cancer care, and why does it matter?How can governments, nonprofits, and the private sector collaborate without duplicating efforts?What does it look like to push for urgency inside slow-moving systems?How can leaders balance burnout, bureaucracy, and long-term impact?Key Takeaways:Catching cancer earlier saves lives and reduces long-term healthcare costsGlobal health solutions work best when designed with, not for, local communitiesBureaucracy is unavoidable, but leaders can still drive meaningful change within itBold decisions often feel uncomfortable in the moment but define long-term impactSustainable funding models require creativity beyond traditional philanthropyLeadership at scale is about systems, not individual heroicsThemes:Global cancer prevention and early detectionHealth equity and accessLeadership inside government and large institutionsSystems change vs. individual impactWomen in STEM leadershipImmigration, resilience, and purpose-driven careersNavigating urgency in bureaucratic environments