Meet Bridget Therriault: Head of US Internal Communications & AstraZeneca Foundation Executive Director
Although Bridget Therriault spent most of her career in healthcare, adhering to the advice of her father, she has always been open to expanding her horizons. Bridget began her communications career at Penn Medicine, then advanced her career in healthcare by working for Main Line Health (MLH), a health system serving areas of Philadelphia and its Western suburbs. When the opportunity arose to take a position at AstraZeneca, however, Bridget decided the time was right to embrace a new challenge.
Embracing the Quest Towards Health Equity
I believe its providential how you gain the experiences that shape your life…when you head into new territory, you must remain agile and pivot as you embrace new circumstances and learn new information.
Bridget's curiosity and desire to absorb as much as possible led her to new heights as a professional. Currently, she is not only the Head of Internal Communications, but she is also the Executive Director of the AstraZeneca (HealthCare) Foundation. Founded in 1993, the not-for-profit, separate from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, works to advance health equity and foster community well-being through strategic grant-giving and capacity building support for nonprofit organizations. Working alongside the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, Bridget and the “dynamite” Foundation team created a new grantmaking program, Creating Health Access for Next Generation Equity (CHANGE). Whilst a portion of the Foundation’s efforts help financially support organizations through grants, she explained that the work they do also comes in the form of setting the organizations up for future success: fostering a philanthropic collaborative for nonprofits where they can share, learn, and build a sustainable infrastructure to accelerate a mutual commitment towards delivering equitable healthcare.
In order to truly understand health equity, you must experience disparity in action. It is a broad concept and a huge problem to solve, but it is rooted at the community level in terms of solutions that can be put in place to help populations in need.
An experience Bridget had with disparity in action was during her time with MLH. Since MLH’s footprint serves communities with vastly different health determinants, the health system has spent more than a decade addressing these challenges head on with solution-based programming, earning national recognition from the American Hospital Association and other leading organizations. According to her, it was a privilege to play a role in the foundational strategy as well as the storytelling on successes for others to learn from.
Bridget’s steadfast commitment to conquering the challenges that persist in health equity is also reflected in her work through CHANGE. With its launch in late 2023, CHANGE is comprised of a cohort of six community-based organizations working to advance health equity and improve access to quality healthcare for people experiencing disadvantages due to their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other characteristics. Halfway through the first year of funding, the CHANGE grant awardees have already collectively reached over 18,000 people through direct services, events and programming, with many gaining greater access to health screenings, healthcare services and navigation support, health insurance, culturally-tailored health education and more. Quite an accomplishment- this represents 85% of the cohort’s annual goal for reached participants!
Family Roots: A Source of Motivation and Success
Bridget's success within the AstraZeneca team is rooted in the unwavering support she receives from her family, which is her primary source of motivation. While she excels in her professional endeavors, Bridget holds to her belief that her role as a wife and mother is paramount. With three children, she takes pride in nurturing their experiences and watching her family grow. Bridget also values her extended family and has a cherished tradition of hosting weekly Sunday dinners at her home. Outside of her family commitments, Bridget dedicates herself to one of her favorite pastimes: improving her home. She finds joy in decorating or undertaking renovation projects, ensuring her household radiates a vibe that represents her and her family.
Bridget’s journey at AstraZeneca exemplifies resilience and dedication, especially in the pursuit of health equity. From her early career in the health system world where she saw firsthand the real impact health equity has on communities, to her current roles at AstraZeneca, Bridget has navigated challenges with a sense of adaptability and innovation. Her current commitment to fostering community well-being through initiatives like the AstraZeneca Foundation’s CHANGE program speak to her passion for equitable healthcare solutions.
Beyond her professional achievements, Bridget draws strength from her family, balancing her career with a cherished role as a devoted mother and wife. Her story serves as testament to the impact a leader can have when driven by compassion and a relentless pursuit of positive change.