In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Leonore Okwara, MPH, GFI, CES, reflects on how lived experience can transform the way we understand public health.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Leonore found herself navigating the healthcare system not only as a public health professional, but also as a patient. That experience reshaped how she thinks about research, community partnership, and the knowledge that comes from living through what we study.
This conversation explores courage, community, trust, lived experience, and what becomes possible when we recognize that the people closest to the experience often have the deepest understanding of what needs to change.
Meet Leonore Okwara, MPH, GFI, CES✨
Leonore is a breast cancer survivor, clinical and community-engaged researcher, advocate, and speaker dedicated to strengthening partnerships between communities, researchers, and academic and healthcare organizations.
After being diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in 2023, Leonore’s experience with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and reconstruction deepened her commitment to improving how communities are engaged, supported, and represented in research and healthcare. Through advocacy, storytelling, and education, she also empowers individuals to know their bodies, advocate for themselves, embrace the power of community, and find joy while navigating survivorship and life beyond cancer.
Conversation Highlights 🎙️
- Knowing Your Body — Leonore reflects on how paying attention to her body led to an early breast cancer diagnosis—and why understanding our own bodies is an essential part of public health.
- When Lived Experience Changes the Questions — After experiencing cancer herself, Leonore shares how she now sees community-engaged research differently and why people living the experience often recognize needs that researchers alone cannot.
- The Community Is the Future — She discusses building authentic partnerships between researchers and communities, arguing that meaningful engagement means communities help shape, sustain, and ultimately lead the work.
- Finding Joy Along the Way — Leonore reflects on learning to appreciate everyday moments—from watching her children grow to stirring cream into her morning coffee—and how gratitude helped carry her through treatment and survivorship.
- Public Health Is Deeply Human — Together, Leonore and Dr. McClamroch explore what becomes possible when research, lived experience, and human connection are valued equally.
“Know your body.” — Leonore Okwara, MPH, GFI, CES
Stay in Touch 🔗
With Leonore Okwara, MPH, GFI, CES
LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonoreokwara
Instagram ↗: https://www.instagram.com/leonoreo_light/
TikTok ↗: laurebeatrice@gmail.com
Cancer Resources:
- https://nancyslist.org/name-nancy-novack/
- https://touchbbca.org
- https://www.lbbc.org/
- https://pinkfund.org/
- https://www.cancercare.org/
- https://www.patientadvocate.org/
- https://www.cancercare.org/
- https://mygooddays.org/
- https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/
- https://youngsurvival.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- https://canceradvocacy.org/home/
With Dr. Kristi McClamroch
LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch
Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6
Speaking & Leadership Development 🤝
Dr. Kristi McClamroch partners with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, government, and higher education organizations through keynote presentations, facilitated conversations, workshops, and leadership development experiences.
Her work explores courage, leadership, systems change, the conditions that shape decision-making, voice, well-being, and values-aligned action.
Whether you’re planning a conference, retreat, leadership program, or organizational event, Courageous Public Health can help create meaningful conversations that inspire reflection, connection, and action.
To explore speaking or consulting opportunities, connect on LinkedIn ↗ or visit our website ↗.
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