Public Health Connects Us All

Shade Olowookere ’17 is on a mission to expand the way we think about public health. Beginning her extensive education as a Talent Development scholar at URI, Olowookere gained a passion for helping people, whether they were in her own community or across the world.

“From a young age, I have had a deep commitment to meaningful and positive impact driven by purpose,” she says. “My personal story as a first-generation Nigerian-American has instilled in me a strong commitment to creating pathways for global communities and ultimately helped me determine my career trajectory.”

Her career has spanned local, state, national, and global sectors. As a public health advisor for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Olowookere provides technical support to international emergency response, preparedness, and recovery efforts through research, workforce training and development, and strategic partner engagements.

Her work acknowledges the interconnectedness within our society, recognizing that what occurs in one community can affect another. “When we think of health, we think about medical or clinical health. However, public health is much broader,” she says. “It aims at improving infrastructure, creating better environments, resolving health disparities, and focusing on how we can live as a healthier society.”

A pivotal moment came when beloved College of Health Sciences professor, Dr. Molly Greaney, encouraged her to pursue a URI J-term experience in Guatemala. During that time, Olowookere got a first-hand look at public health from an international perspective, visiting and working with local schools and hospitals. It proved to be a transformative experience for her both personally and professionally, and one she hopes more students will get to have.

“My hope is for students to broaden their public health perspective,” she says. “I believe this would increase empathy for the global population and the challenges they face. It would offer a new perspective on how we may support and advocate for others through understanding of cultural and socioeconomic differences.”

Olowookere remains connected to URI and received a 10 Under 10 Award from the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement for her early career success and commitment to her community.