Building the Future of Public Health

Our $6 million endowment to Willamette University’s Public Health Program represents a strategic investment in the future of healthcare leadership. The program’s unique approach combines traditional public health education with a liberal arts foundation, creating leaders equipped to address complex healthcare challenges from multiple perspectives.

The Heatherington Scholars program, offering annual scholarships of $11,500, attracts diverse talent to the field of public health. These scholars benefit from an interdisciplinary curriculum that spans anthropology, history, environmental science, sociology, and exercise science. This broad foundation helps them understand health challenges in their full social and cultural context.

What makes this program particularly effective is its integration with Willamette’s graduate schools of law and business, along with established community partnerships. This connection creates opportunities for students to understand healthcare challenges from legal, business, and community perspectives – essential knowledge for future healthcare leaders.

The program emphasizes practical experience through internships and community-based research projects. Students work directly with healthcare organizations, gaining real-world experience while contributing to community health initiatives. This hands-on approach ensures graduates are prepared to make immediate impacts in their communities.