Dr. Tenbit Emiru: A Healthcare Champion for Change
Alumni of Notable Achievement recipient Dr. Tenbit Emiru (BA ‘99, PhD ‘03, psychology, MD ‘07), a “transformative healthcare provider and leader," promotes health equity and improving outcomes for underserved communities. As Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at UCare, she drives strategic initiatives to provide integrated whole-person care, expand access to care and improve outcomes while reducing disparities.
Meet CLA's 2024 Outstanding Alumni
CLA alumni are transforming the world. If you need proof, look no further than these eleven catalysts for change. Nominated by their peers, we're excited and proud to recognize this year's Alumni of Notable Achievement and Emerging Alumni Award recipients.
What do you do now? What energizes you about it?
I am the Chief Medical Officer at UCare, a non-profit health insurance company providing healthcare services in Minnesota and western Wisconsin with a mission to improve the health of our members through innovative services and strong partnerships. As a physician, it is important to me to ensure that those who are most vulnerable and have complex health conditions get the care and support they need no matter who they are or where they come from.
Reflect on one of the defining experiences from your time as a CLA student. What impact does it have on your life today?
As an undergraduate and a psychology major, I took Abnormal Psychology and I approached the professor, Dr. James Butcher, to get involved in research projects he may have so that it [could] help me get into medical school. He sent me to his colleague Dr. Paul Arbisi at the VA Hospital and I worked with him for several years. In the process, I developed my own research idea, which led me to pause my dream of going to medical school right after college and [instead] get a PhD in psychology under Dr. Butcher. I am forever grateful for his mentorship and support. Because of his encouragement, I realized that taking the path I never knew could be possible. In the end, I still pursued my dream of going to medical school but in the process, I got a PhD.
What are some ways your liberal arts education provided a foundation for what you do now?
I took a variety of classes, some of which had little to do with my major. However, I learned about other cultures, global politics, and ancient history. My liberal arts education makes me an informed global citizen.
If you could go back to your time in college, what advice would you give to yourself at that age?
It is important to work hard and focus on education. It is also important to be curious, try new things, and have fun in the meantime. How do you know your calling if you don’t try many things?
Where did you spend most of your time on and around campus? What do you miss about your old haunts?
I wasn’t a fan of libraries at the time (I am now!). I wanted a comfortable chair in a quiet corner. There were lots of these at the Carlson School of Management and I loved that building. It was also easier to find parking on the West Bank. I miss meeting my friends, walking to the coffee shop, and studying until the building closed late at night. It reminds me of how hard we worked but also how much fun we had.
About the Alumni Awards
The Emerging Alumni Award is one of CLA’s Outstanding Alumni Awards that highlights recent graduates who have been remarkable leaders, creators, and community service-oriented individuals.
Nominees of this award are chosen each year by members of the CLA Student Board and past honorees of this award. All nominees are new alumni who have graduated from the College of Liberal Arts generally within the past 10 years. These individuals are chosen for their outstanding contributions to their fields and communities while still emerging in their professional careers.
The College of Liberal Arts Alumni of Notable Achievement award, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is one of two Outstanding Alumni Awards that highlight former students who have stood out as great leaders, professionals, and community service-oriented individuals. This award is one of the ways that CLA comes together to celebrate alumni for their achievements in all areas of society—career paths, interests, community involvement, talents, achievements, and more.
All nominees for this award are submitted by fellow CLA faculty, alum, staff, and friends, and the winners are selected by a committee of past honorees. This award was started in 1994 and has since been given each year (with the exception of 2019-20). These handpicked individuals are celebrated and honored for their impact on the world around them.
Learn more about CLA's Outstanding Alumni Awards.
This story was edited by Sally Adams, an undergraduate student in CLA.
