Board of Directors

Your race at birth, family background, and socioeconomic status are circumstances beyond one’s control. While these factors shape early opportunity, individuals retain the power to choose how they impact their communities and society at large. Through intention, perseverance, and service, it is possible to defy limitations of language, appearance, and status and become a catalyst for positive change.

My name is Lota Ojiako. I am a physician and a parent. Through my personal and professional experiences, I have witnessed firsthand the power of community to empower individuals and create opportunity. I have also been the recipient of deep kindness and generosity—experiences that have shaped my commitment to advancing positive change wherever I find myself.

STEM and healthcare fields are strongest when they reflect the communities they serve. As science and technology define both the present and the future, no community can afford to be excluded from participation or access. This conviction is the foundation for Zebralter Medical, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building mentorship pathways and connecting healthcare professionals with their local communities.

In addition to my medical career, I served as a Religious Education teacher for over ten years. That experience reinforced the transformative impact of early exposure and mentorship. Zebralter Medical works directly with middle and high schools to introduce students to careers in STEM and healthcare, helping them recognize that science is not only accessible, but achievable.

Lota Ojiako, Founder

At Zebralter Medical, we believe that what you see, you can aspire to. Our vision is a nation where scientists and healthcare professionals are the norm in every community, not the exception. While not every child will pursue a career in science, it is essential that those who desire to do so can find mentors, visibility, and a clear pathway forward.

To support this mission, we created Melanin Medical Specialties, a free healthcare mentorship app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. The platform increases visibility of healthcare professionals, facilitates mentorship opportunities, and fosters peer-to-peer connections.

We invite you to join us in building a stronger, more inclusive STEM ecosystem—one that prepares and empowers the next generation to serve and lead.

Gratefully,
Lota Ojiako, MD

Nnenna Ezeilo MD

I am glad you made the decision to visit Zebralter Medical, a non-profit organization that connects Black Scientists to communities of Color and beyond. I am Nnenna Ezeilo, a physician and surgeon in the field of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, more commonly known as Ear, Nose and Throat [ENT] surgery.

Born and raised in Nigeria, I was fortunate to grow up in a household with a physician father. Therefore, I knew my dreams were valid and that I too could become a doctor based on my father’s example. After I completed secondary school, I moved to the United States, where I completed my undergraduate degree, medical school, and surgical training.

While applying for ENT residency, I remember scouring the websites of residency programs searching for resident physician faces that looked like mine. I wanted to have a sense that I was not alone on this journey to becoming a black, female ENT surgeon. Representation matters.

Along my journey, there were moments of frustrations and doubt. However, I remained encouraged by my parents, mentors, and friends; my community kept me grounded.

I strive to practice an “Each one, teach one” approach. I have mentored black medical student and residents alike, as they navigate their journey in medicine and provide an affirmation of their experiences.

To the aspiring physician or scientist, I would like to remind you that a “journey of a thousand miles [truly does] begin with one step.” There are many paths to achieve your goal of becoming a physician or scientist, so do not be discouraged by a circuitous or non-traditional route. I believe these are all life experiences that will help make you a better physician and scientist.

Nnenna Ezeilo MD
Otolaryngologist

Ngozi Ezike MD

Ngozi Ezike MD began serving as President and CEO of Sinai Chicago, the largest private safety net health system in the state of Illinois, in June 2022. She is the immediate past Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). She valiantly navigated the state through the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. Ezike is a board-certified internist and pediatrician, who worked at Cook County Health, serving for more than 15 years in various direct patient care and administrative roles, including medical directorships at the Austin Health Center and Juvenile Detention Center. She also delivered inpatient care at Stroger Hospital and primary and preventive care in community and school-based clinics.

Dr. Ezike is a nationally recognized public health and health leader. In addition to her degrees from Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, Dr Ezike holds honorary doctorates from Knox College, Southern Ilinois University, and Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine. She earned a business management certificate from Harvard Business School. She is the recipient of dozens of awards and accolades including the Lester H. McKeever Individual Service Award from the Chicago Urban League, Motorola Civic Service Award, the Jane Addams Medal of Freedom, USA Today’s Inaugural Women of the Year Award and Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Diversity Leaders for 2022.

Following the medical track and becoming a doctor has been the gift that keeps on giving. Serving populations and communities of color or limited economic resources allows me to give compassion-filled care to those who often do not receive it. Eyes and hearts open widely to imagine careers that were once thought unattainable. My medical degree has opened doors to clinical medicine, resident and student teaching, academic research, public health and healthcare management. I am humbled everyday to be a physician and I want to encourage my younger brothers and sisters to pursue this worthwhile calling with me

Dr. Ngozi Ezike
President and CEO, Sinai Chicago

Chigo Ojiako

My name is Chigo Ojiako, and I am a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in English through the James Scholar Honors Program. During my time at UIUC, I was actively involved in several campus organizations, including the Pre-Law Honors Society and the African Cultural Association, experiences that strengthened my academic foundation and deepened my commitment to leadership and service.

I bring extensive experience in public service and legislative work, having interned with the United States House of Representatives and the Office of Illinois State Representative Carol Ammons. In these roles, I supported constituent services, conducted policy research, and engaged directly with community members. Through this work, I witnessed firsthand the systemic disparities that exist across communities—particularly within the education system, where access to resources, representation, and opportunity remains uneven.

These experiences shaped my commitment to advocacy and drew me strongly to Zebralter Medical’s mission to expand access, mentorship, and visibility in science and STEM. Our communities deserve to know that science is not only attainable, but an option that belongs to them.

As I prepare to begin law school, I am motivated by a desire to use advocacy, policy, and leadership to help create more equitable systems. I am honored to be part of Zebralter Medical and believe I can contribute meaningfully to its mission by helping amplify underrepresented voices and supporting initiatives that create lasting community impact.

Chigo Ojiako
UIUC Alumni, BA English/LAS Honors James Scholar

Kizito C. Ojiako, MD, MBA, FWACS, FRCS (Eng), FCCP

I am a physician leader and healthcare executive with over 35 years of experience in internal medicine, I am a critical care physician and healthcare executive with over two decades of experience leading high-performing clinical teams and advancing hospital operations to improve patient outcomes and community impact.

I currently serve as Regional Director of Critical Care for Vituity, providing strategic and operational oversight across multiple hospital systems with a focus on quality improvement, physician alignment, clinical performance, and sustainable program growth. In January 2026, I assumed the role of President of the Medical Staff at Prime Healthcare St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center in Chicago, where I support physician engagement, governance, and organizational leadership.

Previously, I served as Medical Director of Critical Care and Vice Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Ascension Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in Chicago, strengthening ICU operations, multidisciplinary collaboration, and performance initiatives. I have also served as a Tele-Intensivist within Ascension Health’s eICU network and remain active in academic medicine as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

My medical training spans Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including Internal Medicine training in Chicago and a Critical Care Medicine fellowship at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey. I later earned an MBA from Purdue University Global to strengthen my effectiveness in healthcare operations and executive leadership.

I am deeply committed to community service and global health, having established medical mission initiatives in my hometown and supported educational and philanthropic efforts that expand access to care and mentorship. I believe I am a strong fit for the Zebralter Medical Board of Directors because I bring clinical credibility, executive leadership, governance experience, and a mission-driven commitment to community impact. I value collaborative leadership and would support Zebralter’s strategic growth, partnerships, and long-term sustainability.

I am deeply committed to mentorship, leadership development, and advancing equitable access to healthcare opportunities. My clinical background, executive experience, and passion for service align strongly with Zebralter Medical’s mission to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and develop future healthcare leaders. I am honored to contribute my experience, perspective, and leadership in service to Zebralter’s Board of Directors. Outside of medicine, I enjoy golf, distance running, travel, and soccer.

Ndidi Ojiako

My name is Ndidi, and I am a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a proud native of Burr Ridge, Illinois. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology with a minor in Creative Writing, and I am currently in my final year of medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Throughout my academic journey, leadership and service have been central to my development. During medical school, I served as Treasurer of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and was selected as a recipient of a scholarship from the American Black Cardiologists, awarded to students who demonstrate promise in academic medicine, leadership, and service.

As an undergraduate, I served as both President and Treasurer of the Salongo Black Student Union, an experience that strengthened my leadership skills and challenged me to adapt and lead effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic. I was also an Executive Board Member and Tutor with Vis-à-Vis UIUC, where I read to grade-school children and witnessed firsthand how literacy empowers imagination, confidence, and possibility. That experience became one of the highlights of my college years and deepened my passion for mentorship and education.

I was honored to receive multiple academic awards, including the Wilmer E. Hellenthal Scholarship for premedical students demonstrating academic excellence, the President’s Award for historically underrepresented students with outstanding academic achievement, and the Black Alumni Network (BAN) Scholarship. The BAN Scholarship introduced me to Zebralter Medical and led to the creation of an annual partnership to continue awarding students on the science track—advancing our shared goal of increasing diversity in STEM.

I also completed my undergraduate studies as a member of the University of Illinois Senior 100 Class of 2022, an honor awarded to the top 100 students out of more than 7,000 graduates.

Reflecting on my time in STEM education, I often found myself in classrooms where students who looked like me represented less than three percent—and sometimes none at all. These experiences reinforced the urgency of intentional mentorship, representation, and access. They also shaped my commitment to ensuring that science and medicine are visible and attainable options for students from underrepresented communities.

I am honored to serve as part of Zebralter Medical, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging gaps in STEM through mentorship, education, and community engagement. I bring a deep passion for service, lived experience, and proven leadership, and I am committed to helping expand opportunity so that future generations can dream beyond what they once thought possible.

Ndidi Ojiako, BS, Senior Medical Student

Uche S. Onwuta, MS, MPH

Uche Onwuta, is the director of the Division of Health Protection at Kane County Health Department. An epidemiologist by training, she leads a team of dedicated professionals in the areas of infectious diseases, environmental health and food safety, chronic disease prevention. She lead the COVID-19 contact tracing program, bringing community COVID-19 mobile testing to all areas of Kane County. She also led the community vaccination efforts in Kane County, collaborating with Illinois Department of Public Health to provide vaccination to essential workers in large manufacturing plants and warehouses around the county. She also leads Kane County’s chronic disease prevention and wellness program, and the health department’s Health Equity program. In her previous roles in 24+ years at the Kane County Health Department, she led efforts in epidemiology, community health assessment and planning, immunizations, suicide prevention and opioid use disorder surveillance programs. Uche is an adjunct instructor at Benedictine University where she has taught courses in Community Health Analysis, Epidemiology, and Public Health Systems. Uche serves on the boards of University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Alumni Association, the UIC School of Public Health Executive Advisory Board as well as the Schaumburg Bank and Trust Board, among others.

She volunteers for several organizations including Destiny Global Foundation, a medical missions organization focusing on prevention, treatment, and management of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus among the medically underrepresented in Africa; as well as the Aurora African American Health Coalition, providing comprehensive health screenings to underserved communities. Uche is passionate about health equity and encouraging students to consider careers in STEM. Uche has a Master of Science degree in Microbiology (Molecular Biology) and a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology. She is passionate about health equity and encouraging students expand their career choice to include STEM. She is a wife and a mother.