Megan Schmidt-Sane ’05

Megan Schmidt-Sane ’05 has dedicated her career to confronting critical global health challenges from an anthropological perspective. From her formative experiences at Gilmour to her current position at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex in the UK, Megan's journey exemplifies a commitment to service, intellectual curiosity and a deep understanding of the human experience.

 

At Gilmour, Megan's intellectual foundation was shaped by rigorous coursework and a broad exposure to different perspectives. "The literature courses at Gilmour were very important to me. Reading and being exposed to different viewpoints and ways of life was foundational to my interest in anthropology," she reflects. Her passion for the field was ignited through Gilmour's Catalyst program, where she worked in the anthropology department at Case Western Reserve University on a project examining Native American healing practices.

 

After graduating, Megan studied international affairs and economics at George Washington University, gaining policy experience through internships in Congress.

 

Following graduation in 2008, she pursued global experiences, working on public health initiatives in urban India through a Rotary ambassadorial fellowship and teaching English in rural Vietnam on a Fulbright fellowship.

 

She later earned a master's in public health at Columbia University, developing expertise in epidemiology and community- based health strategies. During a six-month practicum in Uganda, she worked on HIV outreach and prevention programs, deepening her understanding of health inequities. "In public health, the goal is to reduce infections, but as anthropologists, we ask how it affects people's lives beyond just health. I like being the anthropologist in the room to bring that perspective," she says.

 

In 2015, Megan began her Ph.D. in medical anthropology at Case Western Reserve University, focusing on the political and economic drivers of HIV among young men in urban Kampala, Uganda. She conducted in-depth interviews and participant observation, gaining insight into the lived experiences of those affected. While in Uganda, she also contributed to UNICEF's research on Ebola preparedness, marking the beginning of her focus on health emergencies.

 

Completing her Ph.D. in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Megan quickly transitioned to a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institute of Development Studies, where she provided technical guidance on COVID-19 prevention. Today, she specializes in public health emergencies and urban health equity, addressing emerging outbreaks and the effects of climate change on health. Her international career has taken her to dozens of countries across the globe.

 

Beyond her professional work, Megan remains deeply committed to community and service. "The values of understanding community and taking care of each other in an expansive way that were taught at Gilmour have stuck with me. They always said that service should be about more than yourself, and that's shaped my career," she says. She encourages young people and alumni to think globally and embrace curiosity: "Our world is much bigger than it was, and we’re all interconnected. It’s important for all of us to be a little bit of an anthropologist- learning from other people, cultures and places with humility."