It’s an idea that motivates Elizabeth “Lizzy” Ragan, ’13, every day. In 2019, a climbing accident left her paralyzed from the chest down. But she didn’t let this life-altering event stop her. Instead, she's focusing on issues that matter most to her: creating a more equitable health care system and building awareness about accessibility for people with disabilities — in the workplace, in public spaces and in the outdoors.
Ragan’s perseverance is evident. Following her graduation from Oregon State, the College of Public Health and Human Sciences alumna’s work has focused on infectious diseases and how they are intertwined with poverty and equity. At Boston Medical Center, she managed a program to address the issues of accessibility to COVID-19 vaccines and care for underrepresented communities. In addition, she worked with the medical center’s leadership to develop an institutional biorepository — a collection of samples including blood, urine, tissue, cells, DNA and proteins — to assist with pandemic response research.
“What gets me up in the morning is a desire to play my part in figuring out how to ensure all people have an equal chance at living healthy lives,” she says. Having had to adapt to a new normal herself, she encourages others to find confidence in their own strength.
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