Onye Nnorom facts for kids

Onye Nnorom is a doctor from Canada. She is a specialist in public health. This means she helps communities stay healthy and works to prevent diseases. Dr. Nnorom teaches at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. She also leads efforts to improve health for Black communities at the university's medical school. She used to be the president of the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario. Dr. Nnorom studies how to make health care fair for everyone, especially for Black people and other groups who might face challenges.

Early Life and Education

Onye Nnorom was born in Montreal, Quebec. Her mother came to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago. Her father came from Nigeria. Her father worked in maintenance, and her mother was a personal support worker. When she was younger, Onye went to a summer camp for smart students. There, she became very interested in science.

Dr. Nnorom studied molecular biology at Concordia University. During her second year, a doctor named Dr. Eric Laryea helped her. He was working to encourage more Black students to study medicine. Onye then went to McGill University to become a doctor. She learned a lot about how social things, like where you live or how much money you have, can affect your health. She graduated in 2007. While at McGill, she helped refugees get health services through the YMCA. Later, she earned a master's degree in public health from the University of Toronto. She finished her special training at St. Michael's Hospital.

Career and Important Work

After finishing her studies, Dr. Nnorom worked in different community health programs. These included places like the Women’s Health in Women’s Hands Community Health Centre in Toronto. She also worked at the TAIBU Community Health Centre as a family doctor. She helped people prevent long-term illnesses there. She also advises the Nicotine Dependence Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

In 2013, Dr. Nnorom became an Associate Program Director at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Her work focuses on how unfair treatment based on race, especially against Black people, affects their health. She has worked with the University of Toronto to teach medical students about how racism in society can impact health. In 2020, she became the Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. This means she helps make sure everyone feels welcome and has fair opportunities.

In 2020, Dr. Nnorom started a podcast called Race, Health & Happiness. In this podcast, she talks about how unfair systems in society affect people's health. She was also the President of the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario. In 2021, under her leadership, this association started the Black Health Vaccine Initiative. This project helped provide safe and understanding vaccine clinics for Black communities and other groups in Toronto.

Also in 2021, Dr. Nnorom and other Black Canadian doctors created the Black Health Education Collaborative (BHEC). This project helps medical students and teachers learn about Black health and unfairness in Canadian health care. It provides important information and tools. Other health experts involved include Dr. OmiSoore Dryden and Dr. Delia Douglas.

Awards and Honours

• 2019 Honouree, Women of Purpose Awards
• 2020 Best Health Magazine's Women of the Year