Young Alumna of the Year Award

Dominique B. Hyatt-Oates, Grad ’18
Milwaukee, Wis.

For Dominique Hyatt-Oates, living the Marquette mission means working every day to make Milwaukee a healthier, more equitable community. She serves as the deputy commissioner for Policy Innovation and Equity (PIE) for the City of Milwaukee Public Health Department, a role that involves “reducing health disparities, increasing access to care and addressing systemic inequities, particularly for at-risk populations,” she says, adding that she is passionate about this city.

She chose to earn her master’s degree at Marquette in part because of its location in the heart of Milwaukee. She was also drawn to the Jesuit tradition. “Rooted in service, justice and a commitment to the greater good; all values that deeply resonate with me,” she says.

Dominique took Community and Population Health with Clinical Assistant Professor Kellie Jones, a course that was transformative for her. Professor Jones helped her consider the power of “upstream health interventions,” those that address the root causes of poor health, such as lack of access to affordable, healthy food or reliable transportation. She also encouraged Dominque to pursue a career in public health.

Dominique is immediate past president of the Greater Milwaukee Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses and is excited to stay involved in the organization, mentoring incoming board members. “I’m deeply passionate about advocating for a diverse health care workforce,” she says, “as I believe it is key to improving the health and well-being of our community.”

This award is both meaningful and validating for Dominique. “This recognition inspires me,” she says, “to continue advancing positive change in Milwaukee.”

Fun Facts:

What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?

Study sessions in the libraries with my cohort. I had never been someone to study in groups before, but I quickly realized how therapeutic and effective it was. Not only did we support each other academically, but we also grew closer as a group, rooting for one another along the way. We made the sessions fun by being goofy and sharing snacks, which created a sense of camaraderie and made the hard work feel more enjoyable and rewarding.

Name someone (past or present) with whom you'd like to have dinner.

I would love to have dinner with Prentis Hemphill. After reading their book What It Takes to Heal, I believe it would be an incredible opportunity to discuss their insights on emotional and collective healing, compassionate community care, transformative justice and fostering environments of growth and care.