Veronica Dzomeku spent part of her time as a 2017-18 UMAPS scholar writing a NIH Fogarty-award proposal for the National Institute of Health’s Research Career Development grants. She recently learned that she was awarded a 5-year Fogarty grant as an “Emerging Global Leader” for her project on “Changing the Culture of Disrespect and Abuse in Maternity Care in Kumasi, Ghana.”

Dr. Veronica Dzomeku is a senior lecturer in the Department of Nursing at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), in Kumasi, Ghana. She received a BA in Nursing and Psychology and a Master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Ghana, and a PhD from the School of Nursing at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. As a UMAPS scholar at U-M, Veronica worked with Jody Lori, Associate Dean for Global Affairs and Community Engagement, and Professor of Nursing. Three of their co-authored papers, related to the larger research projects “Exploration of Expectations and Experiences of Mothers toward Childbirth Care” have so far been published in Midwifery, International Journal on Nursing and Midwifery, and African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, and other papers are in progress.

UMAPS mentor Jody Lori was thrilled to learn the news of Veronica’s grant. “It was such a pleasure to mentor such an extraordinary young scholar. Veronica and I worked closely together in Ghana on research and I was immediately struck by her intellect and passion for innovative healthcare solutions. UMAPS provided her the resources, time, and mentorship needed to develop a successful NIH proposal and launch her research career as a nurse-scientist,” Lori notes.

While at U-M, Veronica shared her expertise not only through her presentation in the UMAPS Research Colloquium series, but also by giving guest lectures to U-M undergraduates in LSA and the Nursing school. Veronica credits the UMAPS program for her success in securing the Fogarty award. She adds, “Being a UMAPS scholar was a great experience, and having Prof. Jody Lori as a mentor and working with her and her team was marvelous. I really had a life changing experience as a UMAPS scholar, and given the opportunity, I would do it all again."

ASC congratulates Dr. Veronica Dzomeku on her NIH Fogarty Award and other post-UMAPS accomplishments!

See here for NIH Fogarty award announcement and project details »