A Legacy of Compassion: The Susan Lasker Brody Center

When Susan Lasker Brody passed away in 2022, she left behind more than memories—she left a vision for transforming how we approach mental health in America. Through a generous gift of more than $15 million to Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health, Brody created a lasting institution dedicated to preventing mental illness and building community resilience.

Following in Her Grandmother’s Footsteps

Brody's passion for public health ran deep in her family's veins. Her grandmother, Mary Lasker, had revolutionized medical research advocacy in the 20th century. Mary's achievements were extraordinary: she helped establish what would become Planned Parenthood, co-founded the American Cancer Society, and championed the expansion of the National Institutes of Health during a critical period of growth. The NIH's budget swelled from a modest $2.4 million to an impressive $5.5 billion under Mary's advocacy—a testament to what dedicated champions can accomplish.

Together with her husband Albert, Mary established the Lasker Foundation, which continues honoring excellence in medical science through awards often called "America's Nobels."

Susan Lasker Brody and Former Dean Allan Rosenfield

Where Passion Met Purpose

Susan carved her own distinctive path while honoring this heritage. She built a distinguished career at Sotheby's, where she launched the Museum Services Department and later led the auction house's charitable initiatives. Yet public health called to her, and in 1997, she completed Columbia Mailman's Executive MPH program, beginning a decades-long relationship with the institution.

Brody understood mental health struggles from personal experience and recognized how many Americans face similar challenges without adequate support or prevention strategies. She believed deeply that much suffering could be avoided through better systems and earlier intervention.

“She wanted to make a difference in this world. I saw how gratified she felt about the idea of contributing to the effort to create a world where mental health is prioritized.”

— Catherine Grevers Schmidt

A Center Born from Understanding

The Brody Center, which officially opened in March 2025, represents the culmination of years of conversation and planning. It stands as a national hub where research, education, policy development, and advocacy converge—all aimed at promoting mental wellness before crisis strikes.

This wasn't merely a philanthropic gesture but a carefully considered mission. Catherine Grevers Schmidt, a longtime friend and lawyer for the Susan Lasker Brody Estate, reflected on Brody’s mission to use her resources for meaningful change. “She wanted to make a difference in the world,” Schmidt said. “I saw how gratified she felt about the idea of contributing to the effort to create a world where mental health is prioritized.” Her gift funds ongoing research programs, an endowed leadership position, and scholarships for students who will carry this work forward.

In choosing to establish this center at Columbia, Brody ensured her vision would live on through generations of scholars, practitioners, and advocates committed to the same goal: a world where mental health challenges are met with prevention, understanding, and hope.