NanaEfua (Nana) Afoh-Manin, MD, MPH, is an impassioned and mission-driven leader, emergency physician and innovator dedicated to advancing health equity and social justice through public policy, technology, and philanthropy. She earned her degrees from esteemed institutions, including a medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health from Columbia Mailman School, reflecting her steadfast commitment to multidisciplinary approaches in addressing complex societal challenges.
As a recent graduate at the Harvard Kennedy School of Public Policy, Dr. Afoh-Manin not only achieved academic excellence in management, leadership, and decision science, but also demonstrated exceptional leadership as the President of the Student Government. In this capacity, she spearheaded initiatives fostering courageous discourse and pioneered the convergence of business acumen with philanthropic endeavors to drive meaningful societal impact.
Her clinical research portfolio encompasses critical areas such as workforce financial well-being, burnout mitigation, and navigating the intricate grand technological challenges posed by emerging AI in emergency care. Dr. Afoh-Manin's overarching ambition is to influence federal policy, particularly in reforming loan forgiveness programs for healthcare professionals and bridging the intergenerational wealth gap, thereby empowering minority and first-generation clinicians and scholars.
Prior to her sabbatical to delve into health policy studies, Dr. Afoh-Manin served as the founding member and Chief Medical & Innovation Officer at Shared Harvest. This pioneering social enterprise and nonprofit organization tackled pressing social determinants of health crises such as burnout and educational debt while playing a pivotal role in emergency response efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, rendering aid to over 10,000 Angelenos. Her innovative civic-tech contributions earned her investments from the Google for Startup (GFS) Black Founders Fund, underlining her impactful endeavors in community development by working closely with dozens of community clinics and nonprofit organizations to build human resource capacity. Additionally, she acquired residency with esteemed tech accelerators such as the Los Angeles CleanTech Founders Business Accelerator, UCLA Techquity, and PlugIn South LA, further showcasing her dedication to innovation and social impact. She believes strengthening the workforce and alleviating debt is a fundamental component of achieving equity and economic mobility.
Dr. Afoh-Manin's commitment to community welfare extends beyond her professional roles; she has actively contributed to various task forces and was a recipient of community service awards. Notable recognitions include the Service Award from the National Medical Association, the President’s Service Award from the Association of Black Psychologists, and a nomination for LA Sparks Women of the Year. Furthermore, her initiatives have received grants from esteemed foundations such as the California Wellness Foundation, the Weingart Foundation, the Direct Relief Fund for Health Equity, the Annenberg Foundation, HRSA, and the California Department of Public Health.
Merging her academic and creative prowess, in 2021, Dr. Nana co-produced "I Am Not Your Hero," a documentary short film and educational core curriculum with Oscar Gold recognized director, Kellie Kali, that addresses structural racism, mental health, and suicide in medicine. She teaches this curriculum to medical students as a Clinical Instructor at Charles Drew Medical School and the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Afoh-Manin's current initiative, Project #RESUS - short for resuscitating the hope in medical education pathways - chronicles the people's lived experiences through a collection of articles, poems, and case studies on BIPOC physician well-being that she hopes will become part of national medical training and help to inform health policy.
Dr. Afoh-Manin hopes to grow her business acumen at the junction of government, tech and philanthropy. She is open to opportunities in national government or international humanitarian foundations. Beyond her professional pursuits, Dr. Afoh-Manin finds fulfillment as a devoted soccer mom and traveling background dancer, embodying a holistic approach to life that encompasses family, creativity, and community service. Her journey exemplifies the transformative potential of empathy-driven servant leadership and the profound impact of interdisciplinary collaboration in creating lasting improvements in society.