TYLENOL® Fund to Advance Diversity in Nursing and Health Equity Research

Growing up in Ghana, my journey has been marked by life-changing encounters that sparked a relentless passion for healthcare, research, and equity. I moved to Canada at 16. As fate would have it, my father’s stroke, before high school graduation forced me to become his sole caregiver, permanently altering my viewpoint on health. This defining moment ignited my interest in the plight of older adults who often experience neglect and loneliness. I volunteered at St. Peter’s Hospital Church and saw firsthand the value of empathy. I discovered that my compassion for others went beyond sympathy. I was genuinely moved by their stories, emotions, and struggles. Additionally, I pursued a master’s degree to research an equitable clinical treatment of mothers with postpartum depression and their infants. These profound engagements with marginalized populations in society fueled my decision to pursue a career in nursing. I recognized that nursing would allow me to provide medical care and a platform to comfort, uplift, and inspire those going through difficult times. Every step of my journey strengthens my resolve to support the voices of underrepresented people, foster a compassionate workplace, and promote high-standard patient care. As a nursing student, I continue to work to create a future in which every person receives respectable and equitable care by weaving the tapestry of healthcare with empathy and health equity research. I am prepared to begin this noble path as a nurse, leaving a positive imprint on those I serve and embracing the calling that resonates deeply within me.