SOM Student Juliet Manu Named SEQUINS Scholar
Manu Is One of Just 10 Medical Students Chosen Nationwide to Participate in the Program to Advance Brain Health Equity
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Juliet Manu, M.S. ’22, SOM Class of 2026, is one of just 10 medical students nationwide to be chosen to participate in the first class of the Society for Equity Neurosciences (SEQUINS) Scholars. A highly selective, mentored longitudinal program, SEQUINS Scholars prepares future physician-leaders to advance brain health equity through policy, research, advocacy, and quality improvement.
“I am deeply grateful for this honor, as it reflects my commitment to addressing health care inequities, particularly within neurology,” says Manu, whose interest in advancing health equity is rooted in her personal experiences. “As a first-generation Ghanaian American raised by African immigrants, I have seen firsthand the effects of health disparities and limited access to care on patients and families. These early experiences, combined with my core clinical clerkship rotations and electives, have shaped my understanding of how social, structural, and systemic factors can significantly influence health outcomes.”
Prior to enrolling in the School of Medicine, Manu attended New York Medical College’s (NYMC) Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, receiving her master's degree in biomedical sciences. It was during this time that she increased her familiarity with the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) and the importance of patient advocacy.
“What continues to drive my interest in this work is the understanding that by looking beyond a patient’s diagnosis or reason for admission, clinicians can gain insight into the broader context of a patient’s life. In doing so, what is often revealed are modifiable factors that can be addressed to aid in prevention, treatment adherence, and recovery,” says Manu. “I enjoy speaking with others, learning more about them, and sharing ideas. It is a joy as well as a rewarding experience for me to have the privilege to be able to interact with patients during what may be their most difficult moments with the goal of a positive patient outcome.”
Manu’s health equity work to date includes a quality improvement project within the Department of Neurology addressing SDOH, which she presented at the Neurohospitalist Society Annual Meeting, as well as research on the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLM) in medical education, which she presented at the American Neurological Association Conference and the New York State Neurological Society meeting.
Through patient interviews and collaboration with social work and multidisciplinary teams, Manu helped develop and implement a standardized SDOH screening template integrated into the neurology intake process, identifying transportation access as a major non-medical barrier to care.
Drawing on her experience as an implicit bias trainer, Manu examined LLM responses for potential bias related to race and ethnicity to assess how emerging educational tools such as AI may influence equity in training and care.
As part of the SEQUINS Scholars 2025 Cohort, Manu will undertake a faculty-mentored project that addresses brain health equity and present it at a SEQUINS-sponsored forum.
“As a SEQUINS Scholar, I hope to gain an even deeper knowledge base of the root causes of health inequities and enhance the skills needed to better advocate for my patients. I am also eager to learn how to design and implement projects that meaningfully engage the communities I serve, to create sustainable, patient-centered solutions,” says Manu.
