by Niki Acton '16

Dr. Julie Varughese '00 was recently named the new medical officer and senior technical advisor for AmeriCares, an emergency response and global health organization based in Stamford, Connecticut. In her new role, Varughese is responsible for helping to increase access to quality medicines and supplies for low-income patients in more than 90 countries.

"I feel really privileged to be a part of the great work that AmeriCares is doing in the area of global health as well as disaster response and preparedness," says Varughese.

Over the course of her career, Varughese has focused on her interests in global health and international medicine, spending time in India, South Africa, Guatemala, and Ecuador. Most recently, through her new position with AmeriCares, Varughese traveled to Haiti and El Salvador.

In Haiti, Varughese traveled to the organization's field office in Port-au-Prince. Since the earthquake in 2010, AmeriCares has partnered with local organizations to do a variety of work.

"I visited a couple of the cholera treatment centers where AmeriCares has donated IV fluids, medicines, and other supplies that have been critical during the cholera outbreaks," says Varughese. "Part of my role is to provide medical oversight on the supplies and medicines we receive so that our products are used safely and effectively by our domestic and international health partners. It really helps to go out into the field and see first-hand the settings where our donations are being utilized."

While in El Salvador, Varughese visited AmeriCares' primary care clinic in Santiago de Maria, two hours outside of San Salvador. "The purpose of my trip to El Salvador was to gain a better understanding of the operations of our primary care clinic both in terms of clinical service, but also our community outreach work."

While at Knox, Varughese built the foundation for her career in global health care.

"I always knew that I wanted to go to med school," says Varughese, who pursued a medical degree from Rush University in Chicago and completed an infectious disease fellowship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. "For undergrad I wanted an experience that was going to be well-rounded with subject matter other than just the sciences."

In addition to her major in biochemistry, Varughese studied religion and Spanish while at Knox. She used her Spanish skills throughout her training program, and continues to use her Spanish today.

"Knox allowed me to pursue opportunities that I might not have had at a bigger school," says Varughese. "So much of what I've gone on to do is because of the opportunities and experiences I had at Knox."