Israel Tioua

Growing up in Cameroon and witnessing firsthand the challenges my community faced in accessing adequate healthcare shaped the person I am today. Watching a man die in front of me because the local clinic lacked functional respiratory equipment is an image I have never forgotten. Even as a child, it was clear that there was an urgent need for better medical devices and more reliable healthcare infrastructure. Once I moved to the United States, I promised myself that I would contribute to innovations that drive meaningful change to underserved communities. My research experience at Eli Lilly this past summer deepened that commitment and made me even more determined to advance the medical field. Five years from now, I do not want to be the same kid with limited impact but someone using engineering and research to improve lives.