After a steep drive into a rural village in Nepal, Scout Siebert (MS ‘26, PH) met a man with a severe skin condition who trekked down the mountain once a week to purchase over-the-counter remedies at the nearest pharmacy. He had no idea a medical clinic was only minutes away. Encounters like this remind Siebert of how public health first captured her attention.
Her dedication to helping the marginalized began long before her time in Nepal. Growing up with parents in the U.S. Department of State, Siebert spent her childhood overseas in communities where disease and poverty were prevalent. She decided early on to pursue a graduate degree in public health to support underrepresented communities. She hopes her research will improve health education and develop programs that empower individuals to take charge of their own health.
Throughout her graduate studies, Siebert has immersed herself in global public health research—from analyzing health resilience data from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to working with marginalized populations in the United States. Having seen how limited access to care affects lives, she is committed to expanding the accessibility, quality, and distribution of health care in the communities that need it most.
This past summer, Siebert collaborated with the Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation (KRMEF) during her fieldwork in Nepal. While working with a leprosy colony, she set out to document the experiences of individuals who lived with the disease and shared the data with the organization to help strengthen their program. She entered the project expecting to offer her expertise, but the people she met shifted her perspective on what is most important in public health.
The leprosy colony united people who had been ostracized, giving them a place to rebuild their lives. Hearing their stories of transitioning from isolation to acceptance moved Siebert. “It really did shift my perspective on the importance of community in public health,” she says. Their love for each other reinforced her belief that compassion and public health are inseparable.
A week after meeting the man with the severe skin condition, Siebert visited the clinic and saw him sitting with a doctor, finally receiving the care he needed. “It made all the planning with my field work worth it to see that I made a difference for one person,” she explains. The moment captured what she believed to be the heart of public health: increasing awareness and expanding access. He had been so close to proper care for years without knowing it—now he could finally have relief. “I'll never forget being able to see the direct impact of my work.”
As a BYU graduate student, Siebert felt encouraged to go forth and serve by applying what she learned to help others. “To me, it really is a calling that I feel like my Heavenly Father has given me—to work with these underserved and minority populations that need representation and resources,” she remarks. “There's no good in keeping it to yourself. You have to pass it on to communities that need it, and that's what I plan to do.”
Siebert recently accepted a position with the Department of Health and Human Services in Salt Lake City, where she will begin working full-time after graduation. Much of her work will focus on supporting the Department of Services for People with Disabilities. Long-term, she hopes to continue developing her expertise so she can provide meaningful service to underrepresented communities inspired by the Christlike compassion she has witnessed throughout her graduate experience.