- Posted in All University
- Category: Campus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – Growing up in Nigeria, Prisca Obidike, Lincoln’s Class of 2018 valedictorian, experienced first-hand what it’s like to not have access to quality healthcare.
“Seeing friends and family not get the healthcare they needed is what inspired me to study biology and pursue medicine as a career,” said Obidike.
During her time as a biology student at Lincoln, Obidike spent her summers applying the knowledge she gained in the classroom to her work as a student researcher.
“My professors at Lincoln gave me the knowledge I needed to pursue research opportunities,” said Obidike.
Prisca Obidike, Lincoln’s Class of 2018 valedictorian
Before she started her sophomore year, Obidike worked as a research assistant at the Atlantic Health Center in Morristown, New Jersey, where she shadowed pediatricians, cardiologists, and medical students.
The following summer, Obidike completed a stint as a student researcher at the University of Iowa where she researched neuroendocrine cancer and presented her research at UI’s Summer Undergraduate Research Conference and Lincoln University’s Science Fair and at Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in Florida.
Her most recent research opportunity took her to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Obidike studied immunoprecipitation at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
Inside the classroom, her thirst for knowledge and academic prowess led to Obidike receiving an assortment of awards including the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, the Dean’s Award, and the Lincoln Legacy of Academic Excellence Award among others.
“Prisca is an extremely gifted student,” said Karen Baskerville, chair and professor in the Department of Biology. “She has a passion for the sciences, a curiosity about life in general, and an impeccable character. All of us in the biology department are proud of her; she works hard and will represent our legacy well.”
After Lincoln, Obidike will attend the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be a doctor,” said Obidike, “my plan is to use the knowledge and skills I gain in medical school to help revitalize the healthcare system in Nigeria.
Prior to the start of medical school, Obidike will attend the Howard Hughes Medical Institute conference in Washington, D.C. where she will present her research on neuroscience. In June, Obidike will participate in the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine Primary Care Scholars Program.
Article and photo by Devin Bonner, Office of Communications and Public Relations