Dr. Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge ’87 has brought to her medical, public health, and public service career a deep commitment to address social injustice and inequity as it relates to the health and healing of people and communities. She has faced systemic challenges to addressing inequity, and through her leadership, has had a significant impact on dealing directly with the root factors that contribute to health and illness.
Majoring in English and Spanish at Amherst, she can speak to the tremendous importance and value of Amherst courses that expand one’s horizons about the myriad ways that language, culture, literature, history, and other intellectual exploration contribute to the growth, sensitivity, compassion, and humanity that have been central to her career. She also exemplifies the power of resilience in pursuing one’s “calling” in life — that with perseverance and keeping the big picture in mind, it’s indeed possible to live out one’s passions and make a difference in the world.