Cathy Ngoma, '20, Advocates For Health Equity With the American Medical Association
By Tony Scott

Cathy Ngoma, '20, is a senior partnerships coordinator with the American Medical Association.
(Photo credit: Cathy Ngoma) 

With her role at the American Medical Association, Cathy Ngoma, ’20, is  advancing efforts to improve health equity in communities across the country.
 

Ngoma, who earned her bachelor's degree in public health from NIU, is a senior partnerships coordinator within the AMA’s Center for Optimal Health Outcomes on the Partnerships and Strategy Team. 

"My work has a nationwide scope through our Release the Pressure initiative, which focuses on empowering Black communities with the knowledge, resources and opportunities needed to achieve optimal health," Ngoma said. "In my role, I lead our grants and sponsorships portfolio for the center. Through this work, we are able to sponsor, fund and strengthen a variety of partnership initiatives that advance our mission and expand our impact."

Those partnerships span the country and range widely in focus.

"The AMA collaborates with a wide range of partners, including physicians from across the country and many national organizations such as the American Heart Association, Minority Health Institute, and the National Medical Foundation," she said. "We also work with hyper-local and regional partners like Westside United, RUSH University, and the Chicago Department of Public Health, to name a few."
 

Ngoma said her work comes with both challenges and meaningful rewards.

“In my role at the AMA, the most challenging part is navigating complex partnerships and aligning diverse stakeholders toward shared goals," she said. "However, the most rewarding part is seeing the tangible impact of our work—whether it’s supporting health equity initiatives, creating new opportunities for collaboration or advancing programs that make a real difference in communities.”
 

Before joining the AMA, Ngoma worked for the Chicago Mayor’s Office’s Community Safety Coordination Center, where she helped address the root causes of violence in communities most affected.

“This experience strengthened my commitment to equity, collaboration and community-driven solutions,” she said.

Ngoma’s passion for service is rooted in her upbringing in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Her mother worked for the Zambian government, and her father was a businessman. She grew up as the second youngest of eight children.
 

“Coming from a large family taught me at an early age the value of teamwork, resilience and shared responsibility,” she said.
 

When it came time to choose a college, Ngoma was eager to broaden her worldview by engaging with people from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.

“I chose NIU because of its strong academic programs, supportive community and opportunities for international students,” she said. “The university provided a welcoming environment where I could both pursue my professional goals and grow personally.” 

Scholarships and grants made her NIU education possible.

“As an immigrant coming from humble beginnings, my family did not have a lot of resources, so receiving the financial assistance I needed was both impactful and deeply appreciated,” she said.
 

During her time on campus, Ngoma was deeply involved in student life.

“Being part of the campus community allowed me to build lasting friendships and connections,” she said. “I was part of the African Students Association, which gave me opportunities to grow as a leader, collaborate across cultures and give back to the community.”

She credits several professors and mentors with shaping her academic and personal development.

“I was fortunate to have professors and mentors who took an active interest in my growth,” she said. “Their encouragement and guidance gave me the confidence to take on challenges and pursue opportunities I might not have otherwise considered. They modeled leadership, resilience and service—qualities that I carry with me in my career today.”
 

One mentor who played a particularly influential role was Professor Shawn Jeffers, who also served as CFO of Little City Foundation, an organization advocating for people with disabilities.

“He had a significant impact on me,” she said. “I ultimately joined Little City as a community health specialist after graduating from NIU.”

Reflecting on her time as a student, Ngoma said NIU taught her to value relationships, embrace diversity and remain adaptable.

“The skills I developed in balancing academics, leadership, and cultural engagement have stayed with me and continue to shape how I approach both professional and personal goals,” she said.

To her, a true NIU Huskie is defined by resilience, community and curiosity.

“Huskies are people who rise to challenges, value relationships and seek to learn from every experience,” she said. “They carry these values forward to create a positive impact wherever life takes them.”

This is just one example of how NIU empowers students to become leaders who shape tomorrow's world. Discover how NIU is fortifying our future at niuforward.com.