Post by UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Obie Oniah's approach to medicine and health care has its roots in community‑based care. She completed her undergraduate studies at UW–Madison, pairing coursework with research and volunteer work aimed at reducing health care disparities, then stayed in Madison to work as a certified professional doula, specializing in support for Black mothers through pregnancy and childbirth. When medical school became her next step, UW was her top choice. Through her medical education at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Obie describes how the integration of public health into the curriculum, along with her lived experiences, broadened her understanding of the factors that influence health. Reflecting on the school’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities, she notes that “a person’s health is not simply captured in an exam room, but within the community they come from. This awareness of public health concerns, health equity and other influencing factors allows me to care for patients more holistically,” she said. Obie believes taking care of communities is a critical part of caring for patients. By remaining in Madison throughout her educational path, Obie has sustained the research, volunteer and community‑based efforts she began as an undergraduate. The next phase of her career will take her to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she will pursue her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Mass General Brigham, a main teaching hospital of Harvard. She plans to remain engaged in community‑based research and work focused on improving maternal and infant health outcomes, carrying forward a perspective shaped in Madison through years of connection to community, public health and equity‑centered care. Congratulations to the 165 members of the Doctor of Medicine Class of 2026. #UWGrad