As the oldest of seven children, Stephanie Mbionwu, MD '25, learned early how to care for others. Now, the Empower Scholarship recipient is turning that experience into a powerful career in pediatrics.
Stephanie Mbionwu, MD '25, celebrated The Match® 2025 learning she’d be off to Cleveland to become a pediatrician at UH Rainbow Babies Children’s Hospital and Case Western Reserve University—one of her top choices.
She has long been a caretaker, mentor and leading example.
Dr. Mbionwu also runs a tutoring business that supports students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Through this experience, she has had frequent opportunities to build relationships with both children and their parents, reinforcing the importance of trust and open communication—skills that naturally transfer into pediatric care.
Teaching Kids to Speak Up and Stand Tall
Dr. Mbionwu’s approach to pediatrics centers on empowerment. She wants children to feel confident, heard and in control of their health.
“Kids are often told that they are too small or too young to do one thing or the other,” she says. ”I want to teach kids that they are in charge of their bodies and have the power to make a huge impact when it comes to their health.”
Whether practicing medicine, tutoring or mentoring, she sees building trust as the foundation for helping children thrive.
“At the end of the day, if you’re not able to establish that rapport, the person who suffers is the child,” she says.
Scholarships Go a Long Way for Residency Applications
Dr. Mbionwu received an Empower Scholarship in her final year of clinical rotations at Adtalem's Ross University School of Medicine, almost near the finish line of her journey. It brought a wave of encouragement and recognition during her final year of medical school.
The financial support helped shift her focus from covering tuition to her studies and professional development.
“With tuition taken care of, I could get more involved with extracurriculars and research, which goes a long way in making me more competitive for residency positions.”
The scholarship was a recognition of everything she’d poured into the path so far. It helped her feel seen at a time when encouragement mattered most.
“There’s so much work that goes into it,” she says. “And sometimes it’s easy to feel like you’re not being recognized for what you’re doing. To be selected and know somebody recognizes that this isn’t easy, that there’s a lot of work and sacrifice that has gone into this.”
Whether as a big sister, a tutor or soon-to-be pediatrician, Dr. Mbionwu is committed to helping the next generation thrive—starting with the people closest to her. Her sister just behind her in age is also just behind her in medical school, currently in her third year.
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For more information, email the Adtalem Global Communications Team: adtalemmedia@adtalem.com.
