As CEO of ProgenyHealth, Susan Torroella leads the development and implementation of the company’s overall strategy, champions growth and innovation, and oversees operations and financial performance. Ms. Torroella brings global healthcare management experience to ProgenyHealth and has a strong background in growth, operational scalability, product and service marketing, and client cultivation. She is known for creating strong cultures and leading successful growth phases of healthcare organizations. Susan has received numerous awards for her leadership skills, has lived and worked across the globe, and speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and French. 

How did you become a leader in the health care industry? Have you always been interested in health care?

My sister was a pediatric oncology nurse and the stories she shared from the frontline had an impact on me and cultivated my interest in healthcare. My first job after college was working on maternal and child health programs, first in Washington, DC, and then in West Africa where I stayed for two years. I focused my MBA studies on the healthcare industry and was selected for a leadership training program in the pharmaceutical industry. The rest is history! I have been very fortunate to lead many important healthcare companies.

You were handpicked by the founder of ProgenyHealth, Dr. Ellie Stang, to take over as CEO last year – congratulations! What do you see as the main ingredients required for a successful transition?

I was absolutely humbled to be selected by Dr. Ellie Stang to take over as CEO. She is an amazing person, entrepreneur, and leader. A main ingredient for a successful transition is mutual respect. She is there for me with anything that I need and has simultaneously provided me with the space a new leader needs. We both share the passion for making a difference in the lives of mothers and infants, which is our north star. I am grateful to build upon ProgenyHealth’s two decades of success.

Your career began with a focus on maternal and infant well-being and you’ve returned to your roots now that you are with ProgenyHealth. What is your vision for the future of maternal and infant health?

There is so much need in our country with maternal mortality rates the highest among developing countries. I believe we have the opportunity to impact an entire generation of health. My vision is that through the work that we are doing at ProgenyHealth, we will impact the trajectory of health for millions of mothers and their infants. By providing the right support during pregnancy, peripartum, and post-partum, we can make a significant impact in reducing maternal mortality and fostering a healthier pregnancy and infancy. There are countless opportunities for the healthcare industry to come together to demonstrate how different models of care make a clinical and economic difference to families and payors.

Personally or professionally, what might the WBL network be surprised to know about you?

I have lived on 4 continents: South America, Africa, Europe, and North America.