My name is Antonia Amonu McCarthy and I am a current senior at UMass Amherst. I am a biology major on the pre-med track. I am originally from Cape Coast Ghana and I moved to the United States with my family when I was 9 years old. My family have visited 2 times since then, once in 2017 and recently in December 2022. I currently live in Worcester, MA. On campus, I am an undergraduate researcher, an Undergraduate TA, and an involved student. I am also a mentor to several students on campus as well as a mentee to several UMass students and alumni. As a first generation college student, I find my community by engaging in academic, religious, cultural clubs and RSOs on campus. I am the president of Future Health Leaders Network, a member of UMass BASIC, Black Women in Medicine and BSU to name a few. I am involved with UMass’s Center for Multicultural Advancement and Student Success (CMASS) as a student and a staff member. Outside of school, I enjoy outdoor running (in nice weather), reading and listening to music. I am an avid cook and baker with cooking and baking being my favorite activities. I enjoy using cooking to share flavors from my culture along with other cultures I have encountered.

My academic goal is to attend medical school and learn what it takes to be a medical doctor academically and socially. My career goal is to become a physician in underserved Black and immigrant communities. I hope to be able to one day use my knowledge to train doctors in low income countries like the one I am from. I have hopes of improving healthcare not only in the United States but in countries most in need of healthcare reform.