An everlasting commitment to service
“People everywhere want the same thing,” says Caroline Pogge, DrPH ’19. “They want kids to be cared for and educated, to do their jobs, and to live in peace. But not everyone has these luxuries. Some of us just got lucky with where we were plopped down in the world.”
Pogge was born and raised in East Fishkill, New York, a small town with a ‘big service mentality.’ “The community was quick to step up for those in need,” she said. Her parents reinforced that sense of responsibility—her mother volunteered for the local ambulance corps, and Pogge recalls her parents emphasizing the importance of asking people what they need and offering help when you can.
Through multiple military deployments, a meaningful career in public health, and her philanthropic pursuits, Pogge has always kept the dedication to serving others top of mind.
Lifelong learning and teaching
For her undergraduate studies, Pogge chose to go the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship route at Tulane University, which kicked off her decades-long military service. She then pursued a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Kentucky, where she recently became the first College of Public Health and Master of Healthcare Administration alumna to be inducted into the Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
In 2016, Pogge enrolled simultaneously in a master’s program at the United States Army War College and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at Harvard Chan School. Friends and family joke that she’s ‘always in school,’ which she embraces. “I believe in the ever-learner philosophy,” she said, emphasizing the value of balancing traditional and nontraditional learning throughout her DrPH studies. As she likes to say, “when you rest, you rust,” referencing one of her favorite German proverbs.
For her capstone project, the longtime scuba diver spent time in a shark tank at an aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut, teaching children and families that “sharks aren’t here to eat us.” While unconventional, the project offered a creative entry point into a message she holds close. “It’s about connecting public health and ocean health as early indicators for community stability and security,” she said. “The same principles that keep oceans healthy also apply to our communities. Ultimately, we all want healthier communities and populations, and because of that, I think education in any way around this topic is so important.”
Pogge presented her unique capstone project to a committee that included current and former Harvard Chan faculty members, Rick Siegrist, Bill Bean, and Teresa Chahine. She’s grateful for the way this trio encouraged her to view public health. “Throughout the DrPH program, they all challenged me to approach public health creatively, not just technically,” she said.
Opening doors for the next generation
“The DrPH gave me the ability to do what I wanted to do—to teach, to give back. I still hear Rick, Bill, and Teresa’s voices in my head today when I’m talking to my students,” she said referring to her current position as Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) program director at Fordham University. “I love being able to teach.”
“Education really opened every door for me,” she said. Wanting others to have the same opportunities education brought her, Pogge makes regular gifts to support the DrPH program at Harvard Chan School.
Making gifts shows the value you found in the program, and in this case, helps the next generation take on leadership roles in public health. This is really important to me.
Pogge hopes her gift encourages others to come together in support of the Harvard Chan DrPH program. “If there’s a way you’re able to give back, I think you should—it doesn’t matter if it’s five bucks or five billion bucks, every gift adds up to something much bigger than us.”
