Provider Pulse Ep. 14: In The Shadow Of War, Toward The Light Of Opportunity: Daniella Runyambo's Story (Part 1) The EthnoMed podcast

Provider Pulse Ep. 14: In the Shadow of War, Toward the Light of Opportunity: Daniella Runyambo's Story (Part 1)

28d ago 37:02

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We continue our Provider Pulse interview series where we elevate diverse voices from across healthcare fields to hear the paths people took to their current roles and how their life experiences shape the care they provide.

In the first part of this two-part episode, we speak with Daniella Runyambo, Co-Executive Director of Programs and Community Impact at the Refugee Community Partnership in North Carolina. Daniella takes us back to her childhood in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, growing up in the shadow of war and displacement, and the sense of community that carried her family through upheaval.

She reflects on her family’s eventual resettlement in Maine—navigating high school as a refugee teenager, confronting stereotypes and lowered expectations, and pushing for more rigorous opportunities. Despite language barriers and cultural misunderstandings, Daniella excelled academically and carved out a sense of belonging, laying the foundation for her future as a community leader.

This episode is a story of resilience, identity, and the strength of community bonds.

Whether you are a pre-health student, a practicing clinician, or someone interested in how personal history shapes professional identity, Daniella’s story will stay with you.

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Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Daniella Runyambo Intro Quote (00:00:32)

3. Daniella's Current Role: Description of her work as Co-Executive Director of the Refugee Community Partnership (00:01:41)

4. Growing Up in Congo: Memories of childhood in Kiliba, experiencing war (00:04:22)

5. Community and Resilience in Conflict: How neighbors supported one another, reflections on identity (00:06:13)

6. Schooling in Congo and Rwanda: Educational experiences, dedicated teachers, challenge of adapting to new systems (00:07:59)

7. The Impact of Constant Displacement: How frequent moves affected Daniella's ability to form connections (00:11:39)

8. Family Seeks Asylum: Father's asylum in the U.S. and family's eventual relocation to Maine (00:13:25)

9. Parents' Work and Community Service: Father's role as a phyisician, mother's nonprofilt supporting widows in Congo (00:15:33)

10. Arriving in Maine: First impressions of America, from cold weather to shoes on power lines (00:16:35)

11. High School in Portland, Maine: Language Barriers, placed in basic classes, fighting for more challenging coursework (00:18:40)

12. Stereotypes and Struggles: Facing assumptions about refugees, navigating discrimination (00:22:27)

13. Finding Solidarity: Forming connections with peers (00:24:03)

14. Teachers Who Made a Difference: The support of Mr. Talarico and a dedicated counselor who encouraged Daniella to aim higher (00:25:41)

15. No American Friends: Why integration into local Maine community life was limited during high school (00:31:39)

16. Choosing College: Family expectations, four-year university vs community college, decision to attend the University of Maine (00:32:29)

17. Outro and Closing Reflections of Part 1 (00:34:04)

18. Preview of Next Episode, Daniella Runyambo, Part 2 (00:34:40)

19. Contact Information, Thank You for Sharing the Podcast (00:36:21)

18 episodes