Top 100 Leaders

Irene Rich

MSN 1984 - Distinguished Alumna

Recognized for her military leadership in the field of women’s health. She served as the first director and architect of the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. She managed medical research appropriations totaling $916.6 million and awarded over 2,500 grants targeting breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, neurofibromatosis, defense women’s health, and osteoporosis. She designed the programs to function as unique partnerships among the public, scientific community, and the DOD. As member of two national health policy boards, she worked with multi-disciplinary teams from leading government, academic, private and consumer advocacy organizations to recommend public policy.