Naa Dromo Korley is the first of her family to attend college, and she has dreams of making a difference in the world.
After completing two study abroad experiences, the Honors student continues to explore the world with hopes of fulfilling her purpose of helping others.
By studying Medical Anthropology, Korley examines how health and illness are shaped or understood across cultures considering global, historical, and political forces.
As a proud Ghanaian, Korley has used the country as an inspiration and wants to fight health disparities. After her uncle passed away from a misdiagnosis of Malaria as COVID-19 in Ghana, she was motivated to continue to pursue medicine with hopes of returning to the country to use her knowledge. While the Medical Anthropology student was born in the United States, she says her visits to the West African country and its overall culture have molded her into who she is today.
“I strive to bridge the gap in marginalized communities, as much as I can, by obtaining medical supplies, contacting medical hospitals, and speaking to the board of directors and small clinics,” says Korley.
As a student consistently on the Dean’s List, Korley has mastered balancing her studies with several activities still geared at fulfilling the purpose of helping others. She is involved in several organizations, including an internship with a 501c3 nonprofit called Project Dzidzor, which donates medical resources to facilities in Ghana.
While Korley chases her goal of helping others in the world, she took an opportunity to learn how to become a global leader by studying abroad in Italy for a semester. She calls her experience with the Multicultural Understanding through Nontraditional Discovery Opportunities (MUNDO) one of her most memorable times at The Ohio State University. The experience is one of the reasons she encourages others to take advantage of different opportunities around campus.
“Put yourself out there. Don’t let other people’s opinions keep you from going after the different opportunities OSU does have to offer. So have an open mind to try new things. Having an open mind will also get you so far at OSU.”
After her semester in Italy, Korley continued her study abroad experience in Ghana by volunteering in hospitals to shadow different physicians. She credits the support of the University Honors Program to helping push her to success to become a better person, leader, and student.
“Honors is probably one of the best decisions I could have made for myself. Ohio State is such a big school, and in Honors I’m always calling my [Honors] advisor asking for help. My advisor is constantly sending me resources and opportunities, whether it’s scholarships or volunteering hours. Making sure you have people sharing opportunities for you to be successful is important."