[11] Blumenthal received her undergraduate degree from Reed College and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

[12] For more than two decades, Blumenthal served as a national leader and senior government health official, researcher, and policymaker in the administrations of four U.S.

Throughout her career, Blumenthal has worked to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic since it first emerged in 1981 and is currently senior medical advisor at amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.

[6][15] She has chaired major conferences, established research initiatives, and written articles to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS in America and worldwide.

[12] Additionally, Blumenthal has been involved in the national response to bioterrorism and in advancing health care reform efforts.

[24] Prior to these positions, Blumenthal was head of the Suicide Research Unit and coordinator of Project Depression, the first major public awareness campaign on this disease at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

[25][26] In 1984, she was commissioned as a medical officer in the United States Public Health Service, rising to the rank of two-star admiral.

[12] During her tenure at NIH, she worked with other colleagues and advocates to expose the inequities in women's health research and the lack of focus on sex differences in disease.

[7][21] Additionally, Blumenthal serves on the board of directors of several philanthropic and educational organizations and is an advisory council member of the MIT Media Lab.

[2][30] Additionally, Blumenthal was the recipient of the Abram Sachar Silver Medallion from Brandeis University, in recognition of her pioneering leadership in women's health.

She was honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Association of American University Women, and named a “Rock Star of Science” by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation.