Last week, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority had the pleasure of welcoming back a familiar face: Selma Okyere-Badoo, a former MedServe Fellow whose journey into medicine began right here within our walls. After completing her fellowship at CIHA, Selma embarked on her next chapter at the ECU Brody School of Medicine, where she recently completed her first year as a medical student.
“I chose ECU because it let me stay here in North Carolina,” Selma shared. “The track I’m on continues the rural health focus I was exposed to during my time at CIHA.”
Selma was the third MedServe Fellow hosted by CIHA since launching the program. MedServe is a North Carolina-based initiative that supports aspiring primary care physicians by providing hands-on experience in underserved communities. This collaboration is part of CIHA’s ongoing commitment to developing future healthcare professionals while enhancing access to high-quality care.
Selma’s first year at Brody was both exciting and challenging. While navigating the academic rigor of medical school, she often reflected on the practical experience she gained at CIHA—experience she says gave her a strong foundation from day one.
“I really do believe the background I gained in all aspects of healthcare as a MedServe Fellow benefited me immensely. I walked into medical school with a broader understanding of healthcare systems, patient-centered care, and quality improvement than I ever imagined.”
Selma hasn’t just survived her first year—she’s thrived. She now serves on the Medical Student Council as Diversity Chair, advocating for marginalized and underrepresented students. She was also selected to join the Student National Medical Association, where she serves as Community Service Chair. In that role, she’s served patients in free clinics across Eastern North Carolina while sharpening her clinical and leadership skills. She’s also involved in quality improvement (QI) efforts through Brody’s Distinction Program in Leadership in Integrated Care, where she works on projects that inform policy and elevate patient outcomes.
“The Right Way training and relationship-based care model at CIHA really shaped how I approach medicine,” she said. “That foundation has helped guide the future path I want to take in healthcare.”
As part of her medical school curriculum, Selma is required to complete a three-year-long QI project—something she feels well prepared for thanks to her experience at CIHA.
“The jargon and QI language that used to overwhelm me at CIHA? I’m now helping my classmates learn it. I’m so thankful to already have the tools I need.”
Selma also emphasized how valuable it was to be exposed to multiple sides of the healthcare system—not just clinical care, but also performance improvement, finance, and administrative operations.
“Being involved in non-patient-facing aspects of care—things like policy, budgeting, and systems thinking—showed me how everything connects. That knowledge shapes patient outcomes, and I’m grateful I had the chance to see that up close.”
Looking ahead, Selma is eager to begin clinical rotations in her second year and get back onto the hospital floors to apply everything she’s learned. She also hopes to find new ways to reconnect her medical school world with the one she left behind at CIHA.
“I’d love to bring classmates to Cherokee to learn more about CIHA, or even have CIHA staff come speak at Brody,” she said.
Selma follows in the footsteps of former CIHA MedServe Fellows Gabrielle Davis and now [DOCTOR] Shantell McLaggan, continuing a path in rural medicine that was sparked right here in Cherokee. Gabrielle Davis, who served at CIHA from 2018 to 2022, is now in her final year at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her journey has included a rotation at an HIV/LGBT specialty clinic in Missouri and an upcoming experience as the chief medic at a wilderness ranch in New Mexico.
CIHA’s first MedServe Fellow, Dr. Shantell McLaggan (2016–2018), also attended ECU’s Brody School of Medicine. After graduating in May, Dr. McLaggan moved to Miami, where she began her OB-GYN residency. In April, she was featured by the Association of American Medical Colleges for her inspiring journey in rural healthcare. These former Fellows continue to exemplify CIHA’s commitment to developing future leaders in rural and culturally competent care.
During her visit to CIHA, Selma connected with Isabella Rose, who began her MedServe Fellowship in Cherokee last fall after graduating from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Chemistry and Geology. Isabella is currently applying to medical school and used Selma’s visit as a chance to get advice on navigating the process.
To Isabella—and to any future MedServe Fellows—Selma offered this advice: “Take it all in. Don’t be afraid to ask people what they expect of you—and let them know what you’re hoping to learn. Take advantage of everything CIHA has to offer, not just the clinical experience. Spend time in places like Tsali Care, or shadow behind the scenes. There’s so much to learn, and you just have to take it one step at a time.”