Aramide Apo-Oyin is a dedicated professional with a strong academic background and a passion for making a positive impact. Born and mostly raised in Chicago, Illinois, Aramide spent part of her formative years living in London and Nigeria, which profoundly impacted her unique perspective on the world. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Kalamazoo College, where she served as an Election Board Member for the Women of Color Alliance (WOCA) and held the position of Vice President in the Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS). Aramide’s passion lies at the intersection of policy, health, and global development. For over a year, Aramide worked with the Aurora Advocate Health Transition Support Program, a discharge-planning initiative for patients from under-resourced communities to bridge the gap when it comes to access to equitable healthcare.

Aramide is a 2023 Payne Fellow and looks forward to joining the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a Foreign Service officer upon her graduation from GHD. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, binging seasons of "Survivor," and being a plant mom.

Summer Internship

This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to intern with the USAID Office of Population, Health, and Nutrition in Bangladesh. My role was multifaceted, involving program management, field monitoring and strategic communications. I authored weekly newsletters and executive briefings, providing updates to Washington, DC, on the health office’s activities, events, and site visits to monitor health programs. This experience allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of Bangladesh’s health portfolio and USAID’s objectives. I also contributed to work plan development for major health system strengthening projects and conducted field visits to monitor USAID health programs in rural hospitals.

A highlight of my internship was helping to host the embassy’s National Day event, celebrating America’s independence. This diplomatic gathering brought together important government figures in Bangladesh and key development partners. It was an invaluable opportunity to witness high-level networking and cultural exchange firsthand. Through close collaboration with foreign service officers and local staff, I developed valuable knowledge in USAID health interventions in Bangladesh — relative to overall CDCS and efforts to strengthen health systems, reduce equity gaps, and improve health system resilience.