As many would attest, a strong sense of leadership is key in the transformation of healthcare. One IHPME student and Student Leadership Award recipient has exemplified the power of leadership and service through his extensive contributions and unwavering commitment to social change.
By: Marielle Boutin
Obinna Emmanuel Ezeani is a biochemist, a digital health specialist, and a multi-award-winning social impact innovator and scholar currently pursuing his MSc in Health Systems Research at IHPME with an emphasis in Health Informatics.
He was also recently presented with a University of Toronto Student Leadership Award (UTSLA), a recognition given to student leaders who demonstrate a strong passion for and dedication to volunteer service, leaving a lasting impact on the U of T community.
Obinna’s career, both professional and academic, has been marked by many noteworthy achievements.
His impactful contributions to public health can be seen through his extensive experience. During his time with the Nigerian FDA, referred to as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), he was twice recognized as the Best Research Paper Presenter at the 12th & 14th immersion programs. He has held several leadership positions, including that of Assistant Director for the Boston Congress of Public Health (BCPH). In addition to his commitment to personal and professional development initiatives from Harvard and Queen’s University, he is also a seasoned public speaker and active member of various international organizations, including The Diana Award, Forward Falls Initiative, the Samuel Ioron Foundation, and the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship.
Currently, he serves as a Research Assistant at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital and is the Founder and CEO of Healthlytic, a Nigerian-based digital health social enterprise where his work earned him a top 10 African Youth in Digital Health Award—a recognition given to young people contributing to building the African digital health ecosystem.
Obinna’s leadership and personal experiences in public health have driven his interest in health informatics, leading him to pursue his studies in the Health Systems Research program, studying with an emphasis on Health Informatics Research.
The main motivating factor in Obinna’s career and studies has been his commitment to building an equitable digital health ecosystem.
“As a digital health specialist, my goals for the future are to drive digital innovation efforts toward achieving patient-centered care and advocating for financing for patient-centered care to achieve universal healthcare coverage within Canada and beyond,” says Obinna. “As a social changemaker, I hope to promote young people’s participation to drive access to care through digital innovation.”
According to Obinna, being recognized with the leadership award is a validation of his dedicated efforts to driving digital innovation and social change, which he finds especially meaningful as an international student striving to amplify the voices of others with similar experiences.
“This award means a great deal in that it is an opportunity to showcase the many contributions and impact of international students,” says Obinna. “On a personal level, it is a reminder to hold on to my principles and core values as a social changemaker.”
This dedication to amplifying international student voices is reflected in one of Obinna’s proudest and most recent contributions – International Students: First 48 Hours in Canada, a 22-minute documentary that explores the experiences of international students traveling to study at U of T.
Obinna’s journey from his home country of Nigeria is featured in the film and is a testament to the steadfast determination he has exhibited throughout his career.
As he balances his studies and responsibilities, he encourages fellow students to embrace leadership opportunities, echoing the words of Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” reminding them not to shy away from leadership roles as graduate students, which may seem like a herculean task, as “you’d never know for sure if you don’t at least give it a try.”
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Communications
Marielle Boutin
Email Address: ihpme.communications@utoronto.ca