As New Hampshire’s first lady, Susan is working on issues related to children’s health especially to the problem of childhood obesity, and to encourage healthy eating habits and regular exercise for New Hampshire’s children and families. In addition to speaking across the state about ways to prevent childhood obesity, Susan serves as the spokesperson for the physical activity program “Walk NH,” which is designed to challenge New Hampshire families to have fun getting in shape. Anyone can participate by pledging to walk the equivalent of either the length-190 miles- or the width- 70 miles- of New Hampshire.
Susan is also working to improve access to preventative health care for children, to reduce underage drinking, and to promote New Hampshire arts and artists. She also works to promote literacy and serves as a Reading Ambassador through her participation in the Scholastic Read program. She has served as honorary chair of numerous events including the Governor’s Arts Awards, CHaD Governor’s Breakfast, the Prouty Century Bike Ride and Challenge Walk to support the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, and the Annual Gala for the Child Advocacy Center.
Susan serves on the board for the St. Paul’s School Advanced Studies Program and the Dartmouth Medical School Board of Overseers.
She has been active in her community serving as a trustee on the Northeast Cholesterol Foundation, the Concord Community Music School Board, the NH Division of Children, Youth and Families Advisory Board and Concord Hospital’s Health Beginnings Endowment Advisory Board. Susan also serves on the boards of the Friends of Bridges House and the New Hampshire Jobs for America’s Graduates. She has also been an active volunteer in the local public schools.
In 2006, the New Hampshire Pediatric Society named Susan the Public Citizen of the Year. She was also awarded the Champion for Children Award by the New Hampshire School Administrator Association, the Women in Leadership award from the New Hampshire Women’s Lobby, the Outstanding Leadership Award from the NH JAG program, the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, the Riverbend Rainbow Award from the Riverbend Community Mental Health, Inc and was awarded the Eternal Light Award by the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Susan was born and raised in Saugus, Massachusetts, graduating from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts with a B.A. in Biologic Science in 1976 and a M.D. from the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1986. Completing her pediatric internship at Tufts-New England Medical Center’s Floating Hospital in Boston, she finished her pediatric residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, NH. Susan practiced general pediatrics at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic in Concord before going on to complete the lipid training programs at Johns Hopkins Medical Center and through the National Lipid Association. Her professional memberships include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the NH Medical Society, the NH Pediatric Society, the National Lipid Association and Northeast Lipid Association. She is board certified in Pediatrics.
She holds honorary degrees from Keene State College and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Susan met her husband John when they worked together at Friendly’s Ice Cream as teenagers. They have been married for over 30 years and are the parents of three children, Jacqueline, Julia, and Hayden.
Links
- American Diabetes Association
- American Heart Association
- CASA of NH
- Children's Hospital at Dartmouth
- Circus Fit
- Friends of Bridges House
- Governor's Council on Physical Activity and Health
- Granite State FitKids
- Let's Move
- LiveFit NH
- March of Dimes
- New Hampshire JAG
- New Hampshire State Council on the Arts
- The Prouty, the Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center
- Walk New Hampshire
Contact Dr. Lynch
Dr. Susan Lynch
Office of the Governor
107 North Main Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2121