Meet Marian W. Wentworth of Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in Medford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marian W. Wentworth.

Marian W., please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up with two parents who loved me dearly, and loved to read and explore ideas. However, they did not have college degrees, and their finances were often scarce. Fortunately, not only my parents, but various teachers took an interest in me, so I was able to earn a scholarship to a prestigious private high school and later to Harvard. I started my working career programming machine tools for my mother. In college, I took other manufacturing and computer related jobs to help pay for school. This meant that I had a lot of work experience when I graduated, so I joined a consulting firm in Cambridge: Arthur D. Little. I worked there for four years.

I loved the work, but after four years, I wanted experience working in a company and living with my decisions. I joined Merck in 1989 and moved up through the ranks of pharmaceutical marketing. In 2003, I moved into the Vaccines Division and really got to know about public health and global health. I ran several businesses in that area, but what I am most proud of is launching the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, all over the globe.

That product was approved in 80 countries in 18 months. It was a crazy time and a whole career in about four years. I moved up to areas of increasing responsibility and left Merck in 2016 with the title of Vice President of Global Vaccines Strategy and Innovation. I left because it was time for me to take on a new challenge and I really wanted to participate in global health from a perspective outside of private sector.

Fortunately, I had so many connections from my work inside of Merck, that it did not take me very long to find my current role. I love it, it really suits me in so many ways and builds on the varied experiences of my career.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being a female in male-dominated industries has never been easy. Finding a way in, being credible enough, strong enough but still feminine enough to be relatable is sometimes an impossible task. When I first started working in consulting, we had to wear skirts and heels, but then when you toured a shop floor, you somehow needed to be compliant with safety regulations. The list goes on.

Later in life, I married a fantastic man with a wonderful career in academics, the two-career choices and debates were always conducted well, but they were painful and we each made compromises for the other. On the other hand, all the challenges I list are high-class problems. They are the problems of someone with wonderful career opportunities and a wonderful spouse. So I explain, but I don’t complain. I am very blessed.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Management Sciences for Health (MSH) – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Management Sciences for Health (MSH) is an American Non-Governmental Organization that works with health leaders throughout the world on global health’s biggest challenges, with a focus on HIV & AIDS, TB, malaria, chronic diseases, family planning, and maternal and child health. Together with our partners, we work toward a shared vision of universal health coverage—accessible, affordable, appropriate health services for all— through stronger health systems.

Our Mission Statement:

Saving lives and improving the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

Contact Info:

• Address: Management Sciences for Health
  200 Rivers Edge Drive,
  Medford, Massachusetts 02155
• Website: www.msh.org
• Phone: 617.250.9500
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManagementSciencesForHealth
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSHMarian

Image Credit:
Portrait: Eclectic Journey Photography
Marian in blue dress in front of 6 staff members: MSH staff
All other photos: Warren Zelman

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