Beyond the White Coat: Dr. Deb Houry on Purpose, Trust, and Resilience

In this episode of Spark Sessions, Sonya Locke sits down with Dr. Deb Houry, emergency physician, researcher and former Chief Medical Officer of the CDC, for a conversation about a life dedicated to protecting others. From treating patients at Grady Memorial Hospital to leading at the highest levels of public health, Deb shares the experiences and challenges that shaped her, the deeply personal decision to leave the CDC after 11 years, and how she found the strength to begin building again. Together, Sonya and Deb explore resilience, rebuilding trust, the importance of staying grounded in your values, and the people and sources of strength that keep us going through seasons of change. It’s a candid conversation about purpose beyond a title, knowing when to trust yourself, and continuing to serve even when the path forward looks different than you imagined.