Chinemerem Cheeny Nwosu (MS4)
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Q: What motivated you to choose a career in Orthopaedics?
A: I was drawn to orthopaedics because of the significant impact orthopaedic surgeons have on a patient’s quality of life. The ability to combine my passions and interests into one specialty and serve patients in a healthy way that brings a lasting impact was a powerful attraction. My mentors and family have remained my robust support system and motivation as I pursue a career in orthopaedics. I am particularly excited to use my career to advance global orthopaedic care in low-resource settings.
Q: As we navigate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) - from your perspective, what would you want your ortho colleagues to know?
A: It’s important to know that everyone has a role to play regarding DEI within orthopaedics. It’s a team effort. Once more people take ownership of the critical role they play, no matter how small, in advancing DEI, we will begin to see an even more significant impact within the field. I encourage my colleagues to actively seek ways to contribute and advocate for cultural change.
Q: Are you involved in any programs, projects, or groups?
A: I’ve been actively involved in various DEI initiatives at Duke. I was an executive board member of the Duke Student National Medical Association (SNMA), where I led various efforts to improve mentorship for underrepresented minority (URM) pre-medical students. In my second year of medical school, I co-founded the Black Maternal Health Equity Initiative to support Black women with high-risk pregnancies who bear the brunt of racial inequities in maternal health.* I am also the co-president of the Duke Pathway to Orthopaedic Mentorship Program, an initiative to establish quality mentorship and career guidance for URM students interested in a career in Orthopaedic surgery.
*Listen to Cheeny’s interview on WRAL about the Black Maternal Health Equity Initiative.