As director of The Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine and the 16th Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Satcher has dedicated his life to improving the health of others. He credits the values of hard work and integrity, which he inherited from his parents, as keys to his success, and ideals he and his wife pass along to their four adult children and grandchildren.
“Living through the Civil Rights movement showed me that I could be a part of change. I realized then that you don’t have to accept things the way they are,” says Satcher. “My wife and I have always had this desire to inspire and make opportunities possible for others. We see that the gifts we have given to our children have translated into their own personal successes and in helping improve the lives of others.”
Satcher hopes the life he and his wife have lead will be a testament for the generations to come. “You make a living out of what you get. You make a life out of what you give,” he says. To help pass on this legacy, Satcher has also been very involved in a project called The Grandparent Legacy. This collection of family stories about giving provides multiple perspectives on family philanthropy through a published book to help ensure future generations understand what came before them.
Through The Community Foundation, the Satchers have recommended grants to multiple organizations including United Way of Metro Atlanta, Student National Medical Association and Mt. Welcome Missionary Baptist Church.