Whitties Making a Difference in Public Health

The launch of Whitman College’s new Public Health program in Fall 2026 will create opportunities for today’s students to study public health in a liberal arts setting, conduct their own research, complete internships and do community-based work as they prepare for public health careers. 

While this program may be new, Whitman graduates have been making valuable contributions to public health for decades. Meet a few of the alums working and making a difference in the field today.  

Maria Courogen ’85 

Consultant, Uncommon Solutions

Maria Courogen majored in French at Whitman and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Washington and a Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Science from Boston University. She recently transitioned from a 30-year career at the Washington State Department of Health to join a health consulting firm, where she’ll bring her decades of experience building health and social care systems to other states.

On what’s rewarding about her work: “What has been most meaningful to me is getting people/teams/agencies to work together, whether it’s the different parts of governmental public health working with each other (state and local and tribal), state agencies working together, or government working with communities or with other sectors. … I have also seen work evolve over time in a way that communities most impacted by negative health outcomes are leaning into their strengths and driving the solutions, which is as it should be.”

On how Whitman prepared her: “When I was at Whitman, I thought you had to go into medicine to have a career in health. … While the science part of medicine was interesting to me, I was just as interested in stories, religion, art, sociology, history, all as related to health. I was interested in the health of families and communities and countries. Being at Whitman allowed me this broad lens.”

On what gives her hope: “My first job in public health was as an epidemiologist, filling out case reports of people diagnosed with AIDS and reporting out the numbers, including the many who died. I worked for decades in the area of HIV and AIDS, and I got to see the understanding of the virus and who it impacted grow, the involvement of communities in pushing for what they needed, the development of the miraculous medications, the ongoing battles related to access to these medications and care, and now, the stories of those who are able to live full lives with the infection. It is remarkable. Even though things seem very difficult for public health right now, especially in the wake of COVID, I have no doubt that in 25 years we’ll look back and see how much progress we’ve made because of what we learned from that pandemic.”

Tessa Fairfortune ’11

Viral Hepatitis Epidemiologist, Washington State Department of Health

Tessa Fairfortune majored in Psychology at Whitman and went on to earn a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Washington. She tracks the spread of viral hepatitis across Washington state, providing crucial data to help prevent and contain disease outbreaks.  

On what’s meaningful about her work: “My work affects people in a foundational way—it helps people live longer, healthier and fuller lives. And as much as technology can assist with public health work, the most impactful things we do rely on personal connections, meeting people where they are, and addressing their basic human needs—something that AI can never replace.”

On how Whitman prepared her: “Whitman taught me fundamental skills that I use in my work all the time: critical thinking, analyzing data, inferring causation and communicating effectively.”

On what gives her hope: “Public health is an incredibly flexible and resilient field. We respond to new health issues and emergencies all the time, often with far fewer resources than we would like. But the people who do this work are smart, dedicated and passionate; in the end, that’s what matters the most. I’m excited to see what Whitman’s public health graduates will accomplish!”

Gaurav Garg ’04 

Associate Director, Global Health, IQVIA

Gaurav Garg majored in History at Whitman and went on to earn a Master of Science in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He uses technology and advanced analytics to help governments and health organizations detect, monitor and respond to disease outbreaks.

On what’s meaningful about his work: “The direct impact of what I do on people and their daily lives and [the] commitment of people working in public health to go above and beyond.”

On how Whitman prepared him: “The liberal arts education at Whitman got me to think laterally about challenges, develop a more holistic view about topics and open up to academic areas that were new to me. … The culture at Whitman infused me with a healthy dose of idealism, which I believe is important to carry in the public health field.”

On what gives him hope: “The pace of innovation and scientific discovery makes me hopeful, and AI will accelerate it. But I do worry about whether the fruits of those innovations … will be available equally to those across the world … who need them the most.” 

Paige Organick-Lee ’17

Operations and Policy Analyst, Oregon Department of Human Services

Paige Organick-Lee majored in Sociology at Whitman and went on to earn a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from The George Washington University. She works as a policy analyst in Medicaid long-term services and supports, serving Oregonians who have low incomes and physical disabilities.

On what’s meaningful about her work: “While I work behind the scenes and don’t see the impact of my work in person, I find great meaning in helping to make changes that can impact thousands of people who have minimal resources but high medical needs.”

On how Whitman prepared her: “Whitman taught me how to think critically, analyze how complex systems interact, conduct qualitative and quantitative research, and think creatively to find equitable solutions. All of these skills are required for public health and are adaptable skills that can be applied to almost any facet of the field. I can take the skills I learned at Whitman and apply them to other areas of public health as my career morphs.”

On what gives her hope: “We have experienced devastating erosion of trust in public health, the undoing of decades-old protective policies, and sweeping funding cuts to critical programs. However, I believe that all of this harm will eventually become too much …. With enough public pressure and a concerted effort, we can swing the pendulum back. In this country’s history, the U.S. has experienced periods of phenomenal expansion of public health policies, funding and program development, and I believe we can get there again.”

Michele Roberts ’98 

Assistant Secretary, Prevention and Community Health, Washington State Department of Health

Michele Roberts majored in Biology at Whitman and went on to earn a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. She leads statewide public health initiatives that aim to prevent disease and promote the health and well-being of people in Washington.

On what’s meaningful about her work: “Making a difference for communities! Helping ensure that public health systems support everyone [to] have equal opportunities for the best health outcomes. I also love mentoring public health students and new professionals; it is rewarding to help support their career development.”

On how Whitman prepared her: “Whitman provided an incredibly solid scientific foundation, along with the well-rounded liberal arts education …. Also, I definitely developed strong writing skills at Whitman. I remember one of my graduate school professors commenting that I was a really good writer, and that wasn’t a skill he always saw in other students. I totally attributed that to my Whitman education!”

On what gives her hope: “Coming out of the COVID pandemic is a pivotal moment for public health. We get to take the lessons learned from the pandemic response and change how we do things and what are the most important things public health needs to be doing. A huge piece of that is trust with communities and supporting community-driven strategies to improve health. I’m also really excited about how many more undergraduate public health training programs there are now—including at Whitman!”

Jane Strachan ’95

Emergency Specialist, UNICEF

Jane Strachan majored in Sociology-Environmental Studies at Whitman and went on to earn a Master of Public Health in International Public Health/International Health from Johns Hopkins University. She supports emergency preparedness and response initiatives in vulnerable communities around the world. 

On what’s rewarding about her work: “Helping people and making a meaningful, tangible difference in their lives through public health programs—particularly by supporting children in times of crisis—is incredibly rewarding. Seeing the impact that access to clean water, good nutrition, vaccines or safe spaces can have on children and families when they need support the most makes the harder, less satisfying days worthwhile.”

On how Whitman prepared her: “Whitman provided a strong foundation in critical thinking, analysis, and writing and communication skills while fostering my curiosity and the ability to approach complex challenges with confidence and creativity.”

On what gives her hope: “There are so many amazing advances that can make a meaningful impact on people and communities. There is growing recognition that health is impacted by so much more than medical care. Advances in technology, collaboration across multiple sectors, and discussions around health equity are so important. It’s a fast-changing field with so many opportunities for engagement!”

Learn more about global internship opportunities with UNICEF.