Henrietta Szold’s Legacy: Bridging the Past and Present in Breast Cancer Care

Henrietta Szold photo courtesy of Hadassah.

Hadassah Founder Henrietta Szold’s life (1860-1945) exemplifies a relentless commitment to creating equitable healthcare and empowering women to shape their destinies. Her legacy, as illuminated in Francine Klagsbrun’s compelling new biography, Henrietta Szold: Hadassah and the Zionist Dream (2024) reminds us that innovation is not merely about advancing medicine but also about addressing the social and emotional needs of the most vulnerable.

Szold’s principles are still alive today, not only in Hadassah’s two world-class research hospitals in Israel, but in my own practice as a clinical social worker in California. Her commitment resonates, particularly as I support women managing the mental and emotional toll of breast cancer and witness their courage, faith and perseverance.

Henrietta Szold: A Personal Connection to Her Courage and Mission
Szold’s journey resonates with me deeply, not just as a clinician but as a woman navigating the intersections of healthcare, leadership and advocacy. Like Szold, I often find myself in male-dominated professional spaces. Her perseverance in founding Hadassah — a revolutionary step in women’s leadership over a century ago — provides a wellspring of inspiration. It is a reminder that meaningful change often requires not just courage but faith in one’s vision, even when the odds are stacked against you.

I think of Szold standing firm in her vision for Hadassah amidst societal resistance in early 20^th century America. Her courage reminds me that leadership isn’t about the absence of struggle but the persistence of purpose. Drawing on that inspiration, I push forward, knowing that creating spaces for multicultural inclusion in healing is worth every ounce of effort. Like Szold, I remind myself that, even in challenging times, the mission matters most.

I draw my own personal sense of empowerment from my family’s values and my Jewish faith, which stress compassion and tikkun olam (repairing the world). These principles have shaped my mission to support women, particularly those facing the dual challenges of cancer and its psychological aftermath.

For example, during my early work supporting women facing breast cancer, I met a patient who was struggling with the emotional toll of her diagnosis. She was overwhelmed, not only by treatment, but also by the weight of feeling alone. So I created a small support circle for her and other patients, blending emotional care with practical resources.

The patient later shared with me that the group felt like a lifeline — proof that she wasn’t alone in her journey. In that moment, I saw Szold’s vision of bridging community and healthcare come to life. Her legacy reminds me that when we combine advocacy with compassion, we create spaces where healing becomes possible, both physically and emotionally.

Recently, the Long Beach/Orange County chapter of Hadassah’s EVOLVE initiative, an empowering program designed to connect, engage and inspire women in their 50s, hosted “Chocolate Decadence for a Cause.” This event, in recognition of October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, highlighted the importance of early breast cancer screening and the cutting-edge treatments offered at Hadassah hospitals. The event underscored a vital truth: Early detection saves lives.

As a mental health clinician, I have witnessed the transformative power of early screening firsthand. At a recent session, a patient shared her journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer through an early screening she almost skipped. She described how catching it early not only saved her life but gave her the emotional strength to fight, knowing she had a chance.

Moments like these reaffirm why early screening isn’t just about physical health; it’s also about empowering women to take charge of their futures.

Women diagnosed early not only have significantly better survival rates but also face fewer mental health challenges compared to those diagnosed at later stages. Events like “Chocolate Decadence for a Cause” honor Henrietta Szold’s legacy by continuing her mission of preventative care and creating opportunities to educate communities about life-saving practices.

Innovations in Culturally Centered Breast Cancer Care
Hadassah’s two hospitals in Israel remain leaders in addressing health disparities, particularly among marginalized communities. The recent work of Dr. Shani Paluch-Shimon and Dr. Michal Braun at Hadassah’s Sharett Institute of Oncology exemplifies this commitment. Their research focuses on health disparities in culturally diverse populations, revealing significant differences in how Jewish ultra-Orthodox and Muslim women experience breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

For example, their research has shown that ultra-Orthodox women experience higher spiritual well-being and lower levels of depression, while Arab women often face poorer health outcomes due to barriers in communication and systemic inequities. These findings highlight the importance of culturally sensitive care, something Szold championed in Israel long before it became a recognized standard.

Today, Hadassah’s psycho-oncology unit integrates this approach, offering tailored mental health support to address each patient’s unique cultural and emotional needs. I draw on these principles of culturally sensitive care in my own practice as I see women from diverse cultural backgrounds. The courage these women display, often juggling familial, cultural and personal expectations while battling cancer, is extraordinary. Providing trauma-informed, culturally attuned therapy allows me to help them find strength in their own narratives and honor their resilience.

During a recent session, a patient shared the challenges of navigating her breast cancer diagnosis while honoring cultural expectations. As a devout Muslim woman, she faced not only the emotional strain of her illness but also the weight of balancing her family’s traditions with the demands of her treatment.

I adapted our therapy to integrate her faith as a source of strength. This approach not only honored her identity but also empowered her to face her journey with greater resilience. Witnessing her transformation reinforced the importance of tailoring care to respect the unique narratives of each individual.

Szold believed that community was integral to healing. This belief mirrors what I see daily: Women lean on their families and communities to navigate their diagnoses. One mother of three, for example, relied on her family’s unconditional support to remain hopeful through grueling treatments.

My patients also lean into their faith. One woman’s faith, for example,  provided her with a framework to process her anxiety and regain a sense of control.

What unites these stories is resilience–not an individual trait but one cultivated within supportive networks.

Hadassah’s Holistic Approach: Multidisciplinary Care for Women
Hadassah hospitals also carry Szold’s mission forward by offering a multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer care. Oncology rehabilitation, psycho-oncology, occupational therapy, genetic counseling and mindfulness-based stress reduction are integrated into the patient’s overall treatment program, addressing patients’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

In particular, Hadassah’s Center for Cancer Genetics empowers women by providing insights into hereditary risk factors. For many patients, this knowledge not only informs their care but fosters a sense of agency, a key factor in psychological resilience.

A few months ago, I worked with a patient who had recently undergone genetic testing after losing her mother to breast cancer. The results revealed a high hereditary risk, leaving her both empowered by the knowledge and overwhelmed by its implications. Together, we focused on strategies to build resilience, weaving mindfulness into our sessions and connecting her with culturally attuned support groups.

Reflecting on Henrietta Szold’s life and the strides we’ve made since her time, I am struck by how her values continue to guide us. Her work reminds me that healing patients is not just about science; it is about compassion, community and the courage to envision a better world.

Whether through supporting patients in my practice or contributing to broader conversations about healthcare equity, I strive to embody the same sense of purpose that defined Szold’s extraordinary life.

Through Hadassah’s work, we see Szold’s legacy come full circle–from a single woman’s vision to a global network of women united in their commitment to healing.

Deborah is a member of the Hadassah Writers’ Circle, a dynamic and diverse writing group for leaders and members to express their thoughts and feelings about all the things Hadassah does to make the world a better place, to celebrate their personal Hadassah journeys and to share their Jewish values, family traditions and interpretations of Jewish texts.  Since 2019, the Hadassah Writers’ Circle has published nearly 450 columns in the Times of Israel Blog and other Jewish media outlets. Interested? Please contact hwc@hadassah.org.