Aisha Makama is a rising senior at the University at Buffalo studying biochemistry and political science. An Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar for Public Service, she is passionate about advancing health equity at the intersection of science and public policy.  

Her research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center focuses on pancreatic cancer and head and neck cancer. She has also conducted research examining the impact of social media on mental health.  

She previously served as a Senior Director at the National STEM Honor Society, leading global initiatives to expand access to science education. As an Innovation Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, she analyzed the effects of National Institutes of Health funding cuts on cancer research and patient outcomes.  

Originally from Kano, Nigeria, Aisha will pursue an MD–PhD and have a career as a physician–scientist focused on equitable healthcare delivery.