Wendy Rogers

Many aspire to bring about change and Wendy Rogers lives this dream.

Wendy is keenly interested in health—specifically sexual health—and is in charge of scientific studies at the Department of OB/GYN and Research Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco.

She develops budgets, writes technical reports and oversees the way research is conducted for the Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Trials Group. It’s a big deal. Wendy is in charge of the clinical trials internationally and stateside for state-of-the art diagnostics, treatment and prevention for sexually transmitted diseases. And she works with some high powered folks.

“We bring together the world's leading researchers to collaborate on solving problems,” she says.

The Texas native got her start in health policy in Portland. She received her BS in Communication from Portland State in 2004 while working full-time at Oregon Health and Science University. She parlayed her interests in sexual health by designing her master’s degree around a communication program for at-risk kids.

Wendy credits the faculty for part of her success. She says Prof. Cindy Coleman challenged her in an undergrad theories course and encouraged her to push herself personally. Prof. Priya Kapoor also had a strong influence on her and encouraged her creativity. “We seem to have a very similar worldview though we come from two very different backgrounds.”

One of her most rewarding jobs was working with Kris Gowen at the PSU School of Public Health. They developed a course called “A Worldview of Sexual Health,” a popular summer class.

A hiking enthusiast and world traveler, Wendy looks forward to the day when she can work on global health issues with the United Nations or the World Health Organization.

Her credo? “Don’t what if.” When you look back and find yourself asking “what if I had done this…” then you’re not living your dream.