Sylvia Okonofua

Masters, Public Health in Black Health with a Collaborative Specialization in Global Health

Sylvia Okonofua is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Donors Save Lives, a federal nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing racial disparities in blood, stem cell, organ, and tissue donations that impact African, Caribbean, and Black communities across Canada. For over seven years, she has worked to dismantle systemic barriers to donation, advocate for Black patients in need of lifesaving treatments, and promote equitable access to healthcare.

Sylvia holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Black Health with a Collaborative Specialization in Global Health at the University of Toronto. Her work is rooted in a decolonizing approach to health equity, challenging Eurocentric healthcare frameworks and addressing the structural determinants of health. She is committed to advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), through advocacy, education, and systemic change.

Her leadership has earned her recognition as a 2024 Novartis Scholar, an 1834 Global Fellow, and the recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal.