The Last Word The Science of Seeking

— Callie Atanasoff, Director of External Relations

When I think “science,” I think lab coats. I think a systematic approach to solving problems. I think sterile facilities with little human connection and a black and white road to initials after a name.

Or rather…thought. That’s how I thought of science until talking to Faith Ogungbe ’13, a Prairie alumna leaning into the art of healthcare: the relationships, partnerships, and knowledge needed to turn data and dreams into policies, systems, and services.

After Faith graduated from Prairie, her next steps seemed clear: enroll in a summer sciences program at Northwestern University, make friends, and get to know the area before majoring in Biology and English. However, halfway through her freshman year, an anthropology course caused a shift in mindset.

“The class covered many topics, but a new understanding of how much social environment impacts health and well-being caused everything to click.” She declared anthropology as her major, with a concentration in human biology.

There were struggles along the way, challenging coursework and frustrating moments of “Can I do this?,” but difficult does not mean impossible; in fact, her new path allowed Faith to reflect on how she approached her passion.

And Prairie played an important role in her preparation.

“Prairie demonstrated the mindset necessary to approach difficult situations,” she says. “Mrs. Pulda’s Pre-AP Calc class was the first course where I was allowed to struggle. She explained that even when you’re struggling, you can be learning, and that you have to be ok with not knowing… that’s why you’re here.”

‘Here’ shifted from undergraduate work to a Master’s in Biotechnology at NU – creating a poetic blend of human sciences and being on the cutting edge of medicine.

Northwestern’s program incorporated a global health component, emphasizing consistent care in impoverished areas. Through a partnership with the University of Cape Town, she traveled to South Africa and worked with a team whoe goal was to create a widely-available probiotic to help reduce infection in women. After South Africa, Faith pivoted again. She was applying to medical school while working in a lab in Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, but was drawn down an adjacent path. “My time in Africa solidified the importance of public health. There is work to be done at systemic levels, and I want to make a difference in people’s health that’s sustainable.”

Her desire was put front and center during the pandemic. The whole world became a case study: from public health addresses to daily monitoring of COVID counts to seeing firsthand the impact of timely response and trusted leadership, Faith was invested.

In 2020, she set her sights on a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and simultaneously served as a contact tracer for the City of Greenfield. Around the same time Faith also found a role with Providers and Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH), a position that aligned with her passion for a more equitable and collaborative approach to healthcare.

PATCH is an innovative, youth-driven program working to improve adolescents’ health and well-being. Faith supports a team of students as they learn to advocate for themselves and develop partnerships with health organizations. It won’t be the last step to get where she wants to go – working for a public health agency at the international level – but it is the meaningful next one.

Faith Ogungbe has created a ripple since leaving Prairie. It may not have been in waters she expected, but best laid-plans are often better after disruption.

“I thought I would be in residency. And somewhere other than Wisconsin. But what I’ve learned is that while it’s important to have a plan, it’s ok to not hold too tightly to the details. Having healthy persistence is key, especially when plans change.”

Prairie is a place where students pursue excellence, a school that prepares students for college and the life they lead after. What Faith has demonstrated, however, is that being a Prairie graduate is not synonymous with a patterned trajectory. Prairie gave her the opportunity to grow comfortable with challenge; in doing so, her goals grew far beyond what she ever thought was possible.