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. 而不是, 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, 在公共场所和户外.
Ragan的毅力是显而易见的. 她刚从澳门威尼斯人娱乐场毕业, the College of 公共卫生 and Human Sciences alumna’s work has focused on infectious diseases and how they are intertwined with poverty and equity. 在波士顿医疗中心, she managed a program to address the issues of accessibility to COVID-19 vaccines and care for underrepresented communities. 除了, she worked with the medical center’s leadership to develop an institutional biorepository — a collection of samples including blood, 尿液, 组织, 细胞, 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,她说。. Having had to adapt to a new normal herself, she encourages others to find confidence in their own strength.
“I always tell people you really don’t know how strong you are until you’re faced with adversity,她说。. “And I bet you that you’d surprise yourself.”
In 2022, Ragan received another opportunity to work toward her goals when she was chosen as a White House Fellow in the Office of Science and Technology Policy. 在这个角色中, Ragan is supporting The American Pandemic Preparedness Plan, 其中包括 你做好准备.S. 临床试验基础设施 to take on another widespread disease outbreak like COVID-19. This plan essentially works to get ahead of issues like vaccine creation before they may be needed.
Ragan says she is honored to be selected for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, 尤其是作为一个残疾人. Previously, employees with disabilities made up only 1.1% of the federal workforce in the executive branch.
“I hope my selection to this program inspires and helps others to envision themselves here too. American leadership should represent the American people, and that means more people with disabilities in positions that allow them to advocate for and make decisions related to advancing the lives of people in this country.”
Beyond helping people with disabilities see themselves working in places like the White House, Ragan is working to increase opportunities for outdoor activities like adaptive cycling. An avid mountain biker before and after her accident, Ragan emphasizes even the smallest changes can make a trail easier for people with adaptive equipment to use, like creating wider trails or making sure there is enough space to maneuver between large logs. 在像组织的帮助下 西北步道联盟, she has found others who are dedicated to making these changes happen.
Ragan believes everyone can work to become better allies for people with disabilities by making sure they have a seat at the table and that their lived experiences are considered. 表示问题, 她说, and the more we educate ourselves about the issues people with disabilities face, the better we’ll be at solving problems together.
一旦她一年的奖学金结束, Ragan plans to use this White House experience as a springboard to her next great adventure. 今年春天, she will cross one item off her list: racing in the hand cycling division of the Boston Marathon.
Ragan’s ambition and empathy are undeniable. She has blazed the trail for so many — now it’s our turn to join the cause.
Sharing her love for the Pacific Northwest through art
Besides being a health policy and disability advocate, Lizzy Ragan is an artist. She shares her love of art, the outdoors and the Pacific Northwest through 水彩绘画 山峦、野花和风景. She says the paintings serve as their own medicine and have provided a great deal of healing. 想了解更多，请关注 @lizzyraganart 在Instagram.
The views expressed in this story do not represent those of the White House or the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
