Ezinne Okonkwo is a third-year Human Biology and Society major at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Currently at UCLA, Ezinne is involved in activities that showcase her passion for public health policy, advocacy, and improving community health, especially among disadvantaged communities. She is an undergraduate research assistant with the REACH Lab where she enrolls female-identifying patients who have experienced homelessness & PTSD in clinical trials and experiments to help better understand how to alleviate responses to traumatic events. She is also involved in Melanin and Medicine as leadership on the Serve Team, supporting access to healthcare in Black communities around Los Angeles and volunteers with Drug Checking LA which supports harm reduction causes in LA. Through her experiences, she has learned the importance of working in the community and ensuring that the communitys needs are met within the realms of public health. Ezinne wants to able to learn more about public policy in order to best understand and address the problems that affect the communities she wants to serve. After graduation, Ezinne hopes to pursue a dual MPH/MD and become a physician with a robust background in public health, allowing her to better advocate for the well-being of her patients, families, and communities. Outside of school, she enjoys sports, listening to the music of the world, and indulging in her Nigerian culture.
