Dear Friends and Colleagues,

My name is Jocelyn Mizero. I am a medical student from Rwanda at the University of Ghana Medical School. In 2018, I graduated from Lafayette College in PA with a B.S. in Biology. After a couple of years of working in global health, I decided to finally pursue my dream of becoming a doctor in 2021. 

17 years ago, I decided that I was going to serve my country and honor my passion for science by becoming a doctor after I spent a month in a hospital being treated for malaria. I worked hard, did well in school, and was lucky to get a scholarship to study in the US with the help of SHE-CAN Global.

In my college application essay I wrote that “I believe that if I am to be an influential person, I want to save young lives. Rwanda does not have enough doctors, let alone pediatricians, so I want to give this back to my country.” Nothing has changed. After college, I decided to return home to work with Partners In Health.

In 2020, I was offered admission to the University of Ghana Medical School, one of the oldest and best medical schools on the continent (ranking #2). I chose this program because it will adequately prepare me to serve people in Rwanda. Located in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana faces similar health challenges as Rwanda. I will be trained to care for communities that suffer the same disease burden as my people.

The program is also relatively affordable: $12,500 per year ($50,000 for 4 years compared to +300K in the U.S.). With living expenses of ⁓ $5,000 per year (it’s non-residential), the total cost of the program comes to $70,000. 

Despite the affordability compared to the U.S., funding remains my biggest hurdle to pursuing this opportunity. Because this is an accelerated program (4 years instead of 6 years) geared toward mature candidates with science degrees, no institutional financial aid is available.

Donations made here will be managed by my mentor, Carol Chang. Carol serves on the board of directors at SHE-CAN and as the Chief Financial Officer. She has been part of my college journey since 2012 and helped negotiate my scholarship with Lafayette. Carol will solely have the ability to make withdrawals from this campaign and pay school fees into the University of Ghana College of Health Science Student Fee Account. 

Thank you to all my mentors, colleagues, and friends who have already provided such tremendous support and never allowed me to give up. And thank you to my new friends, who are joining me on this exciting new journey! I am here because you continue to make me believe in myself and my dream. As my favorite quote says: 

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

-Paulo Coelho

Thank you! 

Jocelyn