M. Chiamaka Okonkwo

UNC Charlotte

Chiamaka Okonkwo a third year Levine Scholar from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has been advocating, researching, and assisting in the delivery of health care throughout her undergraduate career. In addition to working with the local health department with their investigation of HIV/STD prevention and treatment, she has worked with patients at the Levine Children’s Hospital and a local community health clinic. Chiamaka continues to address challenges in the provision of affordable health care through the presentations of her scholarly work with the local health department and the founding and leadership of Health Care Justice at UNC Charlotte.

Dr. Philip Dubois
Chancellor
UNC Charlotte

Personal Statement

The summer after my freshman year, I had the incredible opportunity to intern with my local health department. I explored everything from low-cost clinics to HIV testing centers, experiences that introduced me to the ways by which community health initiatives address inequity and empower the under-served. The following fall, I became involved in the HIV/STD research group of the Academy for Population Health Innovation (APHI). With invaluable mentorship, I currently help to identify populations that are at highest risk for HIV infection and have begun developing curricula for workshops that aim to better educate the community about sexually transmitted disease. As a Spanish major, I enjoy applying my language skills by translating at a low-cost clinic that caters to a primarily Latinx population. At a local children’s hospital, I coordinate events specific to the needs of Spanish-speaking patients and their families. And now, as a member of a statewide coalition that advocates for a single-payer health care system, I have become particularly invested in stimulating conversations surrounding access to care and the institutional roots of health disparity. As I pursue a career in medicine, I firmly believe that addressing inequities within community health is key to building healthier populations.

M. Chiamaka Okonkwo
Biology/Spanish (Minor: Public Health): Class of 2021
written 2020

2020 Fellows Alphabetical by Institution

  • a
  • b
  • c
  • d
  • e
  • f
  • g
  • h
  • i
  • j
  • k
  • l
  • m
  • n
  • o
  • p
  • q
  • r
  • s
  • t
  • u
  • v
  • w
  • x
  • y
  • z
Alexander Kaye, U. of Central Florida Miyako Iwata, UC Berkeley M. Chiamaka Okonkwo, UNC Charlotte Noelia Michelle Flores González, Universidad de Monterrey Ashlyn Woods, University of Baltimore Greta Hacker, University of Central Arkansas Christian Coleman, University of Central Oklahoma Hailey Ettinger, University of Colorado Boulder Michael Hernández, University of Connecticut Claire Sullivan, University of Dayton Maggie Nelson, University of Delaware Tarun Ramesh, University of Georgia Gregoria Uroza, University of Houston-Downtown Wasan Kumar, University of Illinois at Chicago Kaitlyn Meyr, University of Kentucky Ana Benitez, University of La Verne Amanda Gardner, University of Maine at Augusta Stephanie Turcios, University of Mary Washington Nihira Mugamba, University of Maryland, Baltimore County(UMBC) Maggie Sullivan, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Danelia Ramirez Aguilar, University of Massachusetts Lowell Jendayi London, University of Miami Meredith Days, University of Michigan Lucy Grimshaw, University of Missouri – St. Louis Kortney Sims, University of Montana Dinesh Karki, University of Nebraska Omaha Alexandra Vergara, University of New Hampshire Keyri Ambrocio, University of New Haven Aryelle Jacobsen, University of North Carolina Asheville Katherine Torres, University of North Georgia Yarik Molina, University of North Texas at Dallas Cole Passick, University of Northern Iowa Evan McKenna, University of Notre Dame Justin Norris, University of Oklahoma Nisha Sridhar, University of Oregon Oluwatomisin Oyedele, University of Pennsylvania Stephanie Rose, University of Pittsburgh TJ Tann, University of Richmond Ana Trejo Aguilar, University of San Diego Evelyn Pedraza Fernandez, University of San Francisco Imani Sherrills, University of South Carolina Beaufort Patrick Mack, University of South Carolina Upstate Reylan Cook, University of South Carolina-Columbia - Columbia, SC Tyus Edmond, University of St Thomas Amber Heidenreich, University of Wisconsin - Superior Shehrose Charania, University of Wisconsin-Madison Tavyonia Davis, University of Wisconsin-Parkside Trenton Ebel, UW Green Bay
  • update-img-new

    Get updates on what's new in the Campus Compact Network