Brooklyn woman, nationally recognized leader in public health stars in Netflix docuseries

A Brooklyn resident and nationally recognized leader in public health is starring in a Netflix docuseries. Doctor Syra Madad, is a senior director at NYC Health + Hospitals' systemwide special pathogens program.

News 12 Staff

Mar 11, 2020, 2:52 AM

Updated 1,719 days ago

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A Brooklyn resident and nationally recognized leader in public health is starring in a Netflix docuseries.

Doctor Syra Madad, is a senior director at NYC Health + Hospitals' systemwide special pathogens program.

"I have the privilege of essentially overseeing the entire systems response to highly infectious diseases," says Madad.

She's made such a name for herself that even Netflix reached out for her to be in the series "Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak," to show the role she plays.
At 33 years old, Madad has a doctorate in health science and a masters in biotechnology. She's trained around the country, did work for the FBI and has three children.
"It was a very long delivery for me 17 hours. I was not expecting that long of a delivery and they wouldn't give me my epidural they were saying it was going to slow my progression, so I had to distract myself, so I told my husband can you give me my laptop, I'm going to push out some emails," says Madad.
Her love for this work all started in the 10th grade, when her science teacher recommended a book about Ebola.
"That was phenomenal to me, I was super interested and then I started watching and reading more about it, I watched the movie "Outbreak" very early on, I remember as a little girl that was like, oh my gosh this is exactly what I want to do."
Madad says she has an incredible support system and a husband who steps in when she needs it.
Her advice for other women out there who also want to rise to the top:
"Pursue your dreams. People think that you can't have it all. Well you can have it all as long as you work hard for it."