Ezigbobiara Umejiego

UConn School of Medicine, Class of 2021

I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and spent my childhood in both suburban Lagos and rural Imo State. I earned a Bachelor of Library Science from Imo State University, Owerri-Nigeria, and a B.S. in Biology, from Kennesaw State University (KSU) in Georgia.

In Northern Nigeria, I undertook several health advocacy projects. At KSU, I served as a mentor and science tutor for various programs, including the Peach State LSAMP program. As a post-baccalaureate fellow at the National Institute of Health, I mentored summer interns and visiting high school and college students; participated in NIH Academy, a health disparities program; and served as a mentor at College Bound D.C. I also shadowed in the ICU at the Clinical Center and volunteered as a patient ambassador in the operating room. I this latter role I had the privilege of meeting patients of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and interests. I was humbled by their journeys and reminded of our unique commonality, our humanity. In addition, my team, Bridge D.C. (now known as ScoMapp), was one of thirteen teams that participated in the HHS Ignite Accelerator program in spring 2017.

My various professional and volunteer experiences have taught me to prioritize improving the lives of others. I have come to realize that the best way to realize this priority is to work to improve the lives of communities, not just the lives of atomized individuals. In the Urban Service Track, I will be equipped with the experiences and training I need to perform the kind of work necessary to enact this large scale, social improvement in underserved communities.