“The time has never been more right for Kate to tell the story of the women who have suffered too long in the shadows, and that of the many people who work tirelessly to help them get life-transforming care.”
—Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone and The Covenant of Water
No Woman Left Behind is both an inspiring personal journey and a call to action for anyone looking to create a life of purpose.
Fistula Foundation CEO Kate Grant’s new memoir takes readers across the globe and explores the systemic challenges that perpetuate maternal health disparities, including gender inequality, poverty, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure.
100% of net proceeds from the book will support Fistula Foundation’s Love a Sister program, funding free surgeries for women in need.
“In No Woman Left Behind, Kate Grant shares her journey of overcoming setbacks and red tape to help women access life-changing fistula surgeries, offering inspiration and insights for anyone determined to make a difference.”
—Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State
Peter SingerKate Grant has enabled 100,000 surgeries to transform the lives of women who were facing a bleak future. No Woman Left Behind is an inspiring and empowering story. Read it!
About the book
No Woman Left Behind is the unlikely story of how one woman left Madison Avenue to tackle the global maternal health crisis head on.
On a visit to the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, in the Ethiopian capital, Kate Grant found work that spoke to her heart. Bed after bed contained young women suffering from obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that when left untreated leaves women incontinent and too often relegated to live as modern-day lepers. The only cure: surgery.
Grant’s work with Fistula Foundation has enabled more than 100,000 life-transforming surgeries for women injured in childbirth. She demonstrates the profound power of individual action to change lives at scale—since Fistula Foundation takes no government money—and transform the world one woman at a time. Through vivid firsthand accounts of surgeons toiling in remote corners of Africa and Asia, Grant takes readers inside the fight to restore hope to some of the world’s most vulnerable women.
“It is easy to ignore suffering when the problem exists a continent away, for poor women living in Africa or Asia. Grant’s book is a call to action for compassionate advocates, and a stunning tale of how deeds triumph over platitudes. No Woman Left Behind is a powerful plea to be our sister’s keeper, and a guide-book to change the world, one woman at a time.”
—Dr. Denis Mukwege, founder, Panzi Hospital, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize
About the author
Kate Grant is the founding CEO of Fistula Foundation, the global nonprofit leader dedicated to treating childbirth injuries.
A passionate advocate for maternal health, she has expanded critical fistula care across 35 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. No Woman Left Behind is her deeply personal account of the journey to bring healing to women suffering in silence. Grant joined the Foundation as its first chief executive in 2005 and has led its expansion from supporting one hospital in one country, Ethiopia, to its current position as the world leader in fistula treatment.
For press inquiries, contact Johanna J. Ramos-Boyer at johanna@jrbpr.biz
Brooke GladstoneNo Woman Left Behind is part bildungsroman, expedition diary, and call for action against a terrible affliction... It’s a bracing tale in these uneasy times of redemption for both the afflicted and those committed to their cure, and how to live a life with meaning.
Choose No Woman Left Behind for your book club
If you’re interested in hosting a book club, Kate or a senior member of Fistula Foundation’s team would be happy to call in for a 30-minute discussion with your group. Please email info@fistulafoundation.org and CC kate@fistulafoundation.org to arrange a time for the call.
A generous donor will donate 10 copies to qualifying book clubs. Please send the following information to info@fistulafoundation.org
- Your book club name and location
- Social media links and/or your book club website
- If you’re willing to send photos of your book club reading No Woman Left Behind
Here are some topics and questions for discussion:
- The book opens with Kate’s trip around the world in her twenties. How did it impact her? Have you had an experience that changed the course of your life?
- Kate’s parents were “first gen”—the first in their families to graduate from college. How did their experience and values shape her career aspirations? How did your upbringing impact your career choices?
- David Foster Wallace is quoted: “There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” What was Kate worshipping while working on Madison Avenue? How did she change over time? Have your goals and values ever shifted?
- Kate realized that she had let a relationship impede her ability to find a more fulfilling career path. Have you had a similar experience?
- Kate said she experienced “imposter syndrome” while working in political jobs in Washington, DC. Have you ever had a similar experience? If so, how did you manage it?
- Women with fistula are often clinically depressed before they are treated. Their psychological healing starts with sharing their experience with others. Why do you think that’s important? Have you had a similar experience?
- Kate came to see diversity of thoughts, perspectives, and backgrounds in a team as a force for better decision-making. Has that been your experience?
- When the Foundation adopted its global mission, they chose to focus on one measurable outcome: surgeries—becoming “the Smile Train of Vaginas.” How did that choice impact the Foundation’s growth and effectiveness? Was that narrow strategy a smart move?
- Kate pushed hard for an “invitation only” selection of hospital partners. Why was this so important to her? Do you think it was the right decision? Why or why not?
- Kate recounted several incidents of sexism. What does that reveal about the challenges of being a female leader? Have you faced similar situations? If so, how did you handle them?
- Writer Ariel Levy is quoted: “This thinking you can have every single thing you want in life is not the thinking of a feminist. It’s the thinking of a toddler.” Why do you think she chose that quote? How does it apply to Kate’s life choices? Is it relevant to yours?
- Fistula Foundation has grown at a rate much faster than most U.S. charities. What do you attribute that to? What did the Foundation do differently that enabled it to become so successful?
- How did Kate’s relationship with her mother evolve over time? How does that compare with your experience with your parents?
- Kate described empathy as the “rocket fuel” that drives the Foundation forward. What does she mean by that? How has empathy helped the Foundation thrive? What role does empathy play in your life and charitable giving?
- Kate underscored the vast difference between maternal deaths and injuries in the poorest countries versus the U.S. Why do you think this gap is so wide? What would be necessary for this situation to change?
- Trust is a core value at Fistula Foundation and informs how they work with hospitals and doctors. Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott also indicated that she trusted the Foundation and other organizations she’s chosen to support. How does trust benefit both Fistula Foundation and the hospitals doing surgeries?
- One of the themes of the book is Kate’s increasing awareness of the privileges and advantages she had taken for granted. Does that resonate with you? Are there elements of your life that you take as a given, while others struggle to obtain them?
Read the reviews
“Kate Grant’s No Woman Left Behind is part personal memoir, part global health crusade, and all heart. … Grant takes a problem most of us have never heard of—one affecting millions of women—and brings it front and center. … If you’ve ever wondered whether one person can make a difference, this book answers that with a resounding yes. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost and hoped their pain might lead somewhere better.” Read the full review
“In this rousing debut, Grant, founding CEO of the Fistula Foundation, demonstrates how the faith and actions of a small group of people can save the world. … Grant’s partnerships with physicians and philanthropists worldwide have resulted in more than 100,000 fistula surgeries, but her advocacy doesn’t stop there: she endorses other worthy organizations, pushes to support women in business, and more.” Read the full review
“No Woman Left Behind by Kate Grant chronicles her journey through the challenges of global maternal health, specifically focusing on her work with the Fistula Foundation. … In a mix of personal stories, snapshots, statistics, and research, Grant’s unwavering dedication to her cause is evident and drives a powerful call to action that will leave no reader unmoved. Very highly recommended.” Read the full review
Contact us
Press inquiries: Johanna J. Ramos-Boyer at johanna@jrbpr.biz
General info: info@fistulafoundation.org
Contact the author: kate@fistulafoundation.org