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Adventure Starts a Research Scientist on the Path to Arts For Life

July 1, 2019 | By Rachel Zink

The path that led our new board member, Doris Rouse PhD, began with an amazing adventure.

When Doris graduated from Duke University with a degree in Chemistry, she joined the Peace Corps and left everything familiar to teach science in Tugbake, a small, remote village in Liberia. She fell in love with the children and their inspiring young minds, and she became acutely aware of the disparities in health care.

Not one to be daunted, Doris has spent the rest of her life working, not just to improve healthcare, but to assure that solutions were available regardless of culture, climate, or income. Doris says,

“My work has focused on the formation of partnerships between public and private sector organizations (government agencies, foundations, universities and companies) to combine skills and resources to address global public health needs. Over the past 20 years, I have contributed to the formation and ongoing activities of a non-profit (Global Alliance for TB Drug Development) for the development of new drugs for tuberculosis.”

This summer, that dream is coming true, as a new drug to treat tuberculosis makes it way to low-income countries.

Doris brings this passion, determination and skill to the service of our Arts For Life families. Welcome, Doris!