A self-employed public health consultant for nearly 30 years, Tamatha Thomas-Haase believes that through intentional, cross-sector engagement - rooted in equity - transformative change of public health institutions, policies, and processes is possible. Leveraging collective wisdom through artful group process is at the heart of her professional calling, and her public health career has taught her the value of meaningful connection to others and their calling.

On November 6, 2018, Tamatha was diagnosed with stage IIIC, triple negative inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) – a rare and aggressive breast cancer that accounts for 1 to 5% of breast cancers diagnosed in the United States. Disparities in race and socioeconomic status on IBC incidence, as well as outcomes, are well documented – as they are for all breast cancers. Living fully with metastatic breast cancer since December 2020, Tamatha is also co-host of the podcast, Grand Exit, where she and her co-host, Chelsea Leader Gold, take the scenic route through living, dying and living on from very different and ever-changing vantage points.

Tamatha is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned her Master’s in Public Administration from Evergreen State College.