Advancing Women’s Cardiovascular Health Across Sub-Saharan Africa

Alumni, College/University Partners, UWC High Schools, Health & Medicine, Interview/Profile

Henrietta_Afari_Harvard

Henrietta Audrey Ohenewaa Afari (Ghana, UWC Atlantic, Harvard College ’11) is transforming cardiovascular care for women across sub-Saharan Africa. After graduating from Harvard College in 2011 with a concentration in psychology, she earned her MD from Harvard Medical School in 2015, determined to bridge global health and clinical excellence.

 She honed her skills at Massachusetts General Hospital as both resident and attending physician in internal medicine, then served as a fellow in cardiovascular medicine at Penn Medicine, becoming chief fellow in her final year. Completing her fellowship in summer 2025, Henrietta deepened her expertise in developing equitable strategies for managing heart disease among pregnant women in Ghana and Uganda. Work in Botswana further shaped her commitment to global women’s cardiovascular health.

 “My goal is to use clinical research and implementation science to inform policy and transform cardiovascular care for women with heart disease in sub-Saharan Africa,” she explains.

 In October 2025, Henrietta joined the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center as assistant professor, continuing her career at the intersection of academia and clinical care. Her commitment extends beyond patient care to system-level change—she has coauthored articles on reducing healthcare provider burnout in low- and middle-income countries and streamlining emergency obstetric care referrals in rural Ghana.

 Born and raised in Accra, Henrietta’s global perspective was shaped by formative years in Wales and academic pursuits in Boston. “Coming from a United World College, I internalized ideals about effecting positive change,” she reflects. “Without the kindness of those who supported me, my dreams of attending Harvard would never have materialized.”

This profile is part of the “Graduates in Action” series from the 2026 Annual Report

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