Janet Sutherland-Madden

In 2004, Janet suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm that left her blind and paralyzed. She has now fully recovered and has turned her health trauma into a career by lobbying and fundraising for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. 

Sutherland is a former Chicago radio reporter where she was heard covering Supreme Court cases, Illinois legislation, health news and prison stories on WMAQ, WLS, WGN, KMOX, UPI Radio and 75-plus radio stations on the Illinois and Wisconsin Radio Networks. As a result of covering breaking news stories; the deadly Plainfield/Lemont Tornado, Joliet Correctional prison escape, her newsroom was the recipient of AP awards. 

While a journalist, Sutherland’s news stories were distributed on ABC News, AP and UPI wire services and aired on at least 75 radio stations in the Midwest. She has also written and produced cable television public affairs programs, was a feature freelance writer for The Daily Herald, a sports stringer for The Chicago Sun Times, worked with the Illinois News Broadcaster’s Association in speaking engagements at local colleges, and served on the Junior Board of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. 

Sutherland-Madden has worked in marketing in cable television and has syndicated national radio shows and news networks including CNN, CBS and Fox.