As a young college student, Raegan travelled to Moshi, Tanzania, to study the causes of maternal mortality. Her research revealed that complications of unsafe abortion were the leading cause of death in that region of Tanzania at that time. During that formative journey, Raegan witnessed firsthand the terrible consequences that people and families can face when they do not have access to safe, comprehensive reproductive health services. She returned to the US determined to ensure access to critical health services for people worldwide.  

Raegan earned her bachelor’s degree in African Studies, graduating with highest honors, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed her postdoctoral training in obstetrics and gynecology at the New York University Medical Center. She also completed a specialized fellowship in family planning at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, during which time she also obtained her Master’s in Public Health from the Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

Raegan continued to work in global women’s health until she began working at Planned Parenthood during her fellowship. She found addressing the reproductive health needs of people in her own community very motivating and compelling. Raegan worked in various roles at both Planned Parenthood of Maryland and Planned Parenthood Federation of America for over a decade, including serving as Chief Medical Officer for each organization. 

Raegan is thrilled to be selected as the next CEO of Power to Decide and looks forward to continuing her work of ensuring that all people have the power to decide, if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child.