Provost's Lecture Series on Women in Leadership: Dr. Connie Mariano

Journey to the White House and Beyond

Dr. Connie Mariano, Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired) and former White House physician

ABSTRACT

Dr. Connie MarianoDr. Connie Mariano has achieved many firsts in her life. She is the first military woman to become the White House physician to the President, the first woman director of the White House Medical Unit and the first Filipino-American in U.S. history to become a Navy rear admiral. These are achievements she never expected when she started life as an “underdog” in the Philippines as the daughter of a enlisted naval serviceman.

Dr. Mariano shares her life journey, the obstacles she faced and how she overcame them. Drawing on her career in medicine, the military, business and media, Dr. Mariano describes her secrets for success and her advice on marriage, motherhood and finding meaning in life.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Connie Mariano is used to breaking barriers, used to shattering the glass ceiling. Born to a Navy steward and his wife in the Philippines, Dr. Mariano lived the life of an American military family. Her life has been filled with many achievements: high school valedictorian, graduate with honors from the University of California at San Diego, medical degree from the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine and a distinguished 24-year career in the U. S. Navy.

After leaving the White House in 2001 after nine years and service to three sitting American presidents, Dr. Mariano became a consultant in the Executive Health Program at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, from July 2001 to October 2005. In November 2005, Dr. Mariano founded the Center for Executive Medicine, a medical concierge practice that provides presidential-quality medical care to CEOs and their families. 

An expert in presidential health care, including the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, Dr. Mariano is a frequent guest speaker on television and print media on the topics of care for VIPs, presidential disability, travel medicine and optimizing quality of care. She is the author of the book, The White House Doctor: My Patients Were Presidents, A Memoir, published in 2010 by St. Martin’s Press. Dr. Mariano also hosts her own talk show on the VoiceAmerica network, House Calls with Dr. Connie, and appeared on Jon Stewart's show to talk about her experiences at the White House.

LECTURE VIDEO

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