Shariwa Oke is a visual thinker and designer from the sunny state of Arizona who is passionate about making healthier world through the power of visuals. She graduated in 2017 with a dual degree in Physiology and Nutrition from the University of Arizona, with minors in Spanish, Art, and Biochemistry. She then took her love for science and art to the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she graduated in 2019 with a Masters of Science in Biomedical Visualization. Currently, Shariwa works in the University of Chicago, where has appointments in the departments of Public Health, and Organismal Biology & Anatomy.
She is interested in looking at how print and interactive media can be improved to relay information and facilitate learning and behavior change most effectively. She loves designing projects, setting educational goals, and scaffolding information to break down complex tasks and problems. Her attention to detail stems from her love of graphic design and user interface and user experience (UI/UX). She is certain that while technology and advertising are viewed as the banes of health, they are actually key players of health promotion in the modern world.
Shariwa is always looking for opportunities to get involved in initiatives that raise awareness for public health, fitness, and nutrition. She has worked with Northwestern University, Chicago Public Schools, and University of Chicago on various projects. Her work has been exhibited at the International Museum of Surgical Science, featured on the cover of the American Journal of Bioethics, and featured in University of Chicago’s Medicine magazine. She has co-authored a paper on mobile health and precision-medicine in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. When Shariwa is not focused on her professional life, she enjoys cooking a wide variety of foods, exploring new areas of her city and the world, and painting.