Dr. Nwankwo is a dermatology resident physician at New York University who graduated from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine’s (UMKC) accelerated six-year BA/MD program. She served as a UMKC School of Medicine admissions interviewer and mentor through organizations such as Students in Training, in Academia, Health and Research, and the Dream Big Initiative, which she co-founded.
Despite being accepted to four Ivy League universities, Dr. Nwankwo chose the combined accelerated BA/MD program at UMKC, drawn by its unique opportunity to integrate undergraduate and medical education while pursuing her interests in research and health equity. She earned a BLA with a minor in chemistry before attending medical school. During her training, she received multiple honors and scholarships, including the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation Underrepresented in Medicine Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarship, a research award from the Dermatology Foundation, and the Dean of Students Honor. She was also accepted into the prestigious National Institutes of Health Medical Research Scholars Program, an experience she describes as deeply formative in shaping her intellectual curiosity, attention to detail, and growth as a physician–scientist.
Dr. Nwankwo’s journey into medicine has always been guided by a commitment to health equity. From an early age, she recognized how profoundly access to care can influence communities, both locally and abroad. This awareness ultimately led her to dermatology, a specialty where disparities in care remain underappreciated but profoundly impactful. Her passion lies in studying dermatologic conditions that disproportionately affect minority populations, advancing access to care, and fostering representation, diversity, and acceptance within the field.
Dr. Nwankwo’s research experience reflects this mission. With over ten publications and two textbook chapters, she has contributed to advancing knowledge of hair and skin disorders in diverse populations. She is especially proud of her work investigating the skin microbiome in patients with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA), helping the field better understand the biology underlying this scarring hair loss condition.
Beyond academia, Dr. Nwankwo has been a dedicated leader and advocate. As Vice President of her institution’s Student National Medical Association (SNMA) chapter, she created a fundraiser that raised over $4,000 to support chapter initiatives and led a school-wide town hall on addressing bias in medicine. At the national level, she served on the Advocacy Committee of the National Medical Association and partnered with the Cicatricial Alopecia Research Foundation to support patients and drive research forward.
Mentorship is a cornerstone of Dr. Nwankwo’s work. In addition to co-founding the Dream Big Initiative and serving as a medical school admissions interviewer, she has experience tutoring peers in board preparation and medical school coursework, providing students with personalized guidance to strengthen their knowledge and confidence. Students that Dr. Nwankwo has coached have been accepted to medical schools at UMKC, the University of Missouri, and Northwestern University.
Dr. Nwankwo believes in the transformative power of individualized mentorship. As a first-generation physician, she understands the value of resilience, resourcefulness, and hard work, which she channels into empowering mentees to achieve their goals.
Dr. Nwankwo is excited about the future of dermatologic research, particularly studies that improve understanding of skin and hair disorders in underrepresented populations. She envisions a world where dermatologic care is both accessible and equitable and where all patients understand the full scope of what dermatologists can offer.
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