Carine Wellington

Data detective: Carine Wellington

School/College: College of Public Health
Degree: BS, public health, 2018
Hometown: Mount Airy, Philadelphia
Current Job Title: Health policy analyst
Current Employer: U.S. Department of Defense

In less than five years as a professional, Carine Wellington, CPH ’18, has already impacted the lives of countless individuals by improving the healthcare systems that serve them. As a public health analyst for Washington, D.C., Carine helped the nation’s capital navigate COVID-19 pandemic and other public health crises. Later, she served as a health science policy analyst for the internationally renowned National Institutes of Health and now supports our nation’s military forces as a health policy analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

Wellness for warriors. Since stepping into her current role in late 2024, Carine has leaned into the DOD by conducting comprehensive analysis and assessment of military health policies to support and improve healthcare services for military members, veterans and their families. Carine has played a crucial role in identifying and prioritizing health research needs, while also facilitating evidence-based recommendations to address key challenges at one of the largest organizations in the world.

Baptism by virus. When Carine secured her first job with D.C. in early 2020, she had no idea the COVID-19 pandemic was right around the corner. But she rose to meet the “all-hands-on-deck” moment, analyzing data to track vaccine administration and ensure equitable and effective distribution throughout the district. Her efforts won her local recognition as well as the 2023 Public Health Alumni Award from the Temple University Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Growing up in Northwest Philadelphia, Carine watched her mother don scrubs for her job as a nurse and played doctor with her three sisters. But participation in a summer program at Temple as a high school student helped to solidify her interest in healthcare and drew her to Temple.

“It was at Temple where I first discovered my love for data. I love uncovering the story the data tells and most importantly, helping others understand how data can drive informed decision-making.”

—Carine Wellington
Health policy analyst

Carine Wellington poses for a photo outdoors.

While working at Temple’s Risk Communication Laboratory under Director and Associate Professor Sarah Bauerle Bass, Carine assisted with novel research focusing on enhancing public health decision-making. These experiences inspired her to pursue a master of public health in epidemiology at George Washington University and now a doctor of philosophy in health services research from the University of Maryland.