MARY SELECKY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
In honor of Mary Selecky’s lasting impact, Washington Poison Center is establishing the Mary Selecky Public Health Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship fund will support the next generation of public health leaders—those who, like Mary, believe deeply in community, innovation, and compassion. We will utilize the funds support our Master of Public Health students who work with our Public Health Education team to increase WAPC’s reach and to strengthen the health and safety of our communities. Help us honor Mary’s legacy by contributing to this new fund.
Mary Selecky’s legacy lives on in the healthier communities she helped build, the public health professionals she mentored, and the countless lives she touched with her care and commitment. She was truly a guiding light in public health—and a remarkable human being.
Mary’s lifelong commitment to public service began early. After earning her degree at the University of Pennsylvania, she embarked on a distinguished career that would span more than four decades. In 1975, Mary moved to Colville, Washington—a rural community in the northeastern corner of the state. For 20 years, she served in Colville as the administrator for the Northeast Tri County Health District (Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties). She then became the Washington State Secretary of Health from 1999 to 2013, serving under Governors Gary Locke, Christine Gregoire, and Jay Inslee.
Mary led groundbreaking efforts in tobacco prevention, childhood immunization, emergency preparedness, and cross-border public health collaboration. Her leadership was always guided by science, empathy, and a deep understanding of the people and communities she served.
Mary’s contributions extended far beyond her official titles. As Dr. Scott Phillips, our Executive and Medical Director, shared: “Mary’s work saved lives and strengthened public health systems—but it was her warmth, integrity, and boundless curiosity that truly set her apart. Mary believed in the power of listening, in learning from every voice in the room, and in showing up—whether in the halls of government or out in the field inspecting restaurants, clinics, or shellfish beds. She inspired those around her to care more, try harder, and think bigger.”
Mary’s impact continued through her role as a clinical professor at the University of Washington School of Public Health, where she mentored the next generation of public health leaders. She also brought her vision and compassion to Washington Poison Center’s Board of Directors, joining in 2022 and quickly becoming a trusted voice and advocate for our mission.
At one of our recent board meetings, Mary reflected on the evolving nature of public health, offering words that now resonate even more deeply: “I was thinking about my 40-plus years in public health, and how many times we had an opportunity to reinvent ourselves to face the future. We have to keep looking to the future and make the changes—and let go of the stuff we need to let go of.”
Contributions to this fund are designated for the quarterly stipends for our Public Health Interns.
Please email Michele at development@wapc.org if you have questions or need assistance.
By Mail: You may make a contribution directly to the Washington Poison Center by writing to us.
Washington Poison Center
155 NE 100th St., #100
Seattle, WA 98125-8007
Washington Poison Center has also posthumously awarded Mary with the Dr. William O. Robertson Award. Initiated in 2006, this award is given to individuals who provided outstanding service to Washington Poison Center and our communities.