“True progress in public health begins with the people. When we listen to communities, honor their lived experiences, and co-create solutions, we don’t just treat illness—we build systems of care that uplift and empower.” – Dr. Edediong Ekarika
Dr. Edediong Ekarika is redefining what it means to lead in public health. With a career rooted in compassion and driven by equity, she has emerged as a powerful force in the global fight against HIV and health disparities. At the core of her work is a steadfast belief that ending the global HIV epidemic is within reach, if we focus on implementing research innovations that confront the real-world structural barriers communities face, including inequities in policy, income, and gender. Her approach centers the voices and needs of those most affected, ensuring that science becomes a tool for justice and lasting change.
Raised in a region marked by deep health inequities, Dr. Ekarika’s early exposure to community-based care inspired a lifelong commitment to transforming healthcare systems. She pursued her medical education with purpose, later specializing in public health, driven by a vision to bridge critical gaps in the HIV care continuum.
Throughout her career as a Senior Public Health Consultant at Guidehouse, Dr. Ekarika has made significant contributions to the U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy and the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative. Her leadership within the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has helped strengthen care systems in high-burden, underserved areas, especially across the Southern United States. Her approach is collaborative, community-centered, and unapologetically equity-focused ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against HIV.
As an author and co-author of numerous publications addressing pressing public health issues, Dr. Ekarika’s research publications span HIV prevention, social determinants of health, substance use disorders, and health system strengthening, demonstrating her commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation. Her contributions are widely recognized in peer-reviewed journals, underscoring her role as a leading voice in the pursuit of equitable healthcare solutions.
As Director of Clinical and Study Operations at Magnadyne Solutions, she leads the strategic design and execution of clinical research programs. By integrating cutting-edge data management technologies with community-informed approaches, she ensures that every study not only meets the highest scientific standards but also delivers real-world, equitable impact.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Ekarika is a committed philanthropist. Through the Nicholas Ekarika Golden Legacy Foundation (NEGLF), she delivers integrated services in healthcare, education, legal aid, and economic empowerment to underserved communities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Her work is not only about access, it’s about dignity, opportunity, and long-term resilience.
In recognition of her impact, Dr. Ekarika was honored with the 2024 Dratech Health Innovation Excellence Award and served as a judge for the 2023 TechQuest MedTech Hackathon – an international platform celebrating Africans making exceptional contributions in their fields and through humanitarian service.
Dr. Ekarika aims to leverage her skills and experiences to further enhance public health initiatives, particularly those focused on HIV policy implementation and health equity, community service, and fostering healthier communities, making her a valuable asset in public health endeavors.
In this fireside chat, Dr. Ekarika reflects on her professional journey following the award celebration. Highlighting her notable achievements and her dedication to mentoring the next generation of public health changemakers who dare to walk in her footsteps.
Exclusive Interview with Dr. Ekarika
Q1: Your work centers on health equity for marginalized communities. How did growing up in Nigeria shape this mission, and what specific cultural insights do you bring to U.S. public health systems?
Dr. Ekarika: “Growing up in Nigeria, my earliest exposure to public health came from my grandmother, who served as a trusted caregiver in her community. She provided care and traditional treatments to underserved populations who had limited access to formal healthcare due to systemic challenges. She didn’t just treat illness,she built trust, working closely with village elders and faith leaders to ensure that her outreach was accepted and effective. Watching her showed me that real impact starts at the grassroots level, through culturally grounded, relationship-based care. It shaped my commitment to health equity and taught me that community voice and cultural understanding are just as important as clinical knowledge. When I moved to the United States for further studies, I was determined to leverage my background to address health disparities and advocate for inclusive, community-centered approaches, particularly with the marginalized populations. I understand how cultural beliefs, social hierarchies, and trust in community figures influence health behaviors. Whether it’s engaging faith-based organizations, navigating cultural stigma, or designing interventions that reflect lived realities, I aim to bridge gaps in care by grounding public health in the communities it’s meant to serve.”
Q2: Your research encompasses HIV care linkage, the influence of social determinants on health outcomes, and the epidemiology of opportunistic infections in global settings. Can you share more about your research focus, and what motivates your continued engagement with this field?
Dr. Ekarika: “My research on HIV/AIDS aligns closely with the objectives of the National Strategies for Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE), addressing the urgent need for action in regions like the Southern United States, where HIV rates remain disproportionately high. On a global scale, my research supports the dismantling of structural and systemic barriers that hinder progress. As I continue to engage with this community, whether it’s improving pathways to testing and treatment access, addressing the role of stigma, mental health, and other social determinants of health, or advocating for policy change, my goal is to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against HIV. This work is both challenging and deeply rewarding, because it’s not just about data, it’s about people. It’s about communities, resilience, and the unwavering belief that health equity is not only possible, but necessary. I believe my work can help drive meaningful change, and I remain committed to a future where HIV is no longer a threat to public health or individual well-being.”
Q3: Judging the 2023 Techquest Medtech Hackathon exposed you to Africa’s health-tech revolution, Can you discuss your role as a judge, What you learnt from that experience, and How does this inform your critique of Western innovation models?
Dr. Ekarika: “Serving as a virtual judge for the 2023 TechQuest MedTech Hackathon in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, offered a powerful lens into Africa’s health-tech revolution, one defined not by flashy disruption, but by pragmatic resilience. I encountered a team developing an AI-powered diagnostic tool operable via Nokia brick phones. Another team used basic SMS technology to monitor tuberculosis medication adherence in informal Kenyan settlements, no cloud infrastructure, no reliance on 5G, just strategic code and contextual intelligence. These models challenged my assumptions about innovation. In the U.S., health-tech is often app-centric, built for digital abundance. But in many parts of the Global South, innovation is born from scarcity, and it thrives. Western models can be blind to this, often overvaluing scale and sophistication, and undervaluing adaptability. My key insight is this: innovation must align with infrastructure realities. Equity isn’t just about access to technology, it’s about designing systems that honor the tools people already trust and use.”
Q4: You were awarded the 2024 Dratech International Innovation Excellence Award for your leadership in strengthening Mississippi’s HIV System of Care through Clinical Quality Management. Can you share more about your role in that initiative?
Dr. Ekarika: “Receiving the 2024 Duratech International Innovation Excellence Award was a meaningful recognition of a broader mission: strengthening HIV care systems across the Southern United States through sustainable, equity-driven innovation. My work focused on redeveloping the Clinical Quality Management (CQM) program for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program – Part B in Mississippi, with a clear emphasis on building long-term capacity within the HIV care continuum. This initiative involved coordinating statewide quality improvement activities aimed at enhancing patient care, improving health outcomes, and increasing client satisfaction. I led efforts to equip Ryan White-funded providers with the tools, training, and infrastructure necessary to uphold high standards of care, ensuring client safety, reducing costs, and advancing health equity for people living with HIV. More than 50 providers and staff were trained in CQM principles, with 90% reporting increased confidence in using data to drive improvement. This work also led to the launch of a regional quality learning collaborative, which continues to foster peer learning, shared accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement. What made this initiative especially meaningful was its sustainability. I built a foundation for ongoing progress. Receiving recognition from peers through this award affirmed that my work is making a real impact, and it motivates me to continue striving for excellence in building resilient, community-centered public health systems.”
Q5:You’ve led several community-based outreach initiatives. What drives your commitment to grassroots healthcare?
Dr. Ekarika: “What drives my commitment to grassroots healthcare is the unwavering belief that healing must begin where people live, learn, and gather, not just in hospitals or clinics, but in classrooms, places of worship, and remote communities. My volunteer work with faith-based organizations like Redeemer’s Medical Center (RMC), under the ministry of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David in Atlanta, has shown me that healthcare is not just about treatment, it’s about restoring dignity, rebuilding lives, and renewing hope for the uninsured and underserved. Through this work, I’ve had the privilege of reaching individuals who are often invisible to traditional healthcare systems. I’ve seen how a simple health screening, a heartfelt counseling session, or a virtual consultation can be life-changing. These experiences have reinforced a core truth: access to care should not be a privilege, it should be a right.
This belief is also at the heart of my work with the Nicholas Ekarika Golden Legacy Foundation (NEGLF), where we take a holistic, community-centered approach to health equity. Through strategic partnerships, our integrated programs in health, education, legal advocacy, and economic empowerment are designed to meet people where they are, especially women and youth, and equip them with the tools to build healthier, more self-sustaining futures. What makes grassroots healthcare so powerful is its ability to foster resilience from within. The impact we’ve made isn’t just about delivering services, it’s about building trust, strengthening communities, and creating systems that people can rely on. That’s what keeps me committed.”
Q6: What advice would you give to aspiring researchers or students from underrepresented backgrounds looking to make their mark in public health?
Dr Ekarika: “My advice to aspiring researchers and students from underrepresented backgrounds is simple but powerful: your perspective is your strength. Public health needs your voice, your lived experience, and your insight to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful change. Don’t wait for permission to belong in this field, you already do. Seek out mentors who see your potential, not just your résumé. Build community with peers who uplift and challenge you. And remember, excellence isn’t about perfection, it’s about persistence, purpose, and staying rooted in the communities you care about. Also, don’t underestimate the value of starting small. Whether it’s volunteering at a local clinic, joining a research project, or leading a campus health initiative, every step you take builds your capacity and credibility. And when doors don’t open for you, don’t be afraid to build your own. Above all, stay curious, stay courageous, and stay committed. Public health is not just a career, it’s a calling. And we need you in it.
Q7: Finally, how do you envision your future contributions to public health, particularly regarding health disparities?
Dr Ekarika: “I envision my future contributions to public health as being deeply rooted in advancing health equity, not just to close gaps in care, but to interrogate and address the underlying reasons those gaps persist. In public health, data helps us locate disparities, and in many cases, we already know which communities are most affected. The real challenge is not identifying the problem, it’s deciding what we’re willing to do about it. My long-term commitment is to transform how systems operate and, more importantly, who they are designed to serve. This means reimagining public health structures to be more inclusive, responsive, and accountable to the communities they aim to support. It also means investing in community-led solutions, elevating lived experience as expertise, and ensuring that policy and practice are shaped by those most impacted.”
Closing Reflections with Dr. Edediong Ekarika
As the conversation with Dr. Edediong Ekarika draws to a close, one thing is clear: her journey is defined by an unshakable commitment to equity, innovation, and compassion in public health. From her early experiences in Nigeria to her leadership in U.S.-based and global health initiatives, Dr. Ekarika has consistently centered the voices of those most affected by health disparities.
Her accomplishments, from strengthening HIV care systems in Mississippi to leading research at Magnadyne Solutions and founding NEGLF, are a testament to her vision of equity-driven, sustainable healthcare. She continues to challenge conventional models, ensuring that science serves justice and that care reaches those often left behind.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ekarika remains committed to building systems that reflect the lived realities of the people they serve. Her message to the next generation of public health leaders is clear: your voice matters, your story matters, and your presence is transformative.
With leaders like Dr. Ekarika at the helm, the future of public health is not just promising, it is profoundly human.
