Oria James ('17) is a proud SMUS alumni whose journey from Head Girl on campus to a consultant at the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the profound impact of her early experiences and the mentors who guided her. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as a child, Oria's advocacy journey began in Middle School when she met Dr. Iain Forbes, the school physician at the time, who not only shared her condition but also became a mentor and a friend.
“I owe much of my confidence (and audacity) to him and my time at SMUS," Oria reflects.
Her first taste of advocacy came in Grade 6, delivering a diabetes awareness speech—a moment that ignited a passion for global health. This passion led her to earn an HBSc in Global Health at the University of Toronto and an MSc in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Today, Oria works in the WHO’s diabetes department, specializing in advocacy—a role she sees as the culmination of a journey that began at SMUS. Her work isn't just a career achievement but the fulfillment of a mission she started years ago.
Reflecting on her career path, Oria shares advice for current SMUS students, particularly those interested in global health: “Step out of your comfort zone and don’t let rejection faze you! The field of global health can be competitive, and opportunities can feel out of reach, especially at the beginning of your career. After finishing my master’s degree and before landing my WHO consultant job, I received 76 job rejections (including 14 interviews and 8 written tests). Learning how to let rejection roll off my shoulders, rather than bruise my heart, was a powerful lesson I learned the hard way.”
In her current role at WHO, Oria focuses on knowledge translation, advocacy, and communications, leveraging her background in diabetes research and lived experience. Her key projects include developing a diabetes curriculum for youth, creating campaigns to combat diabetes stigma, and crafting promotional materials for WHO technical products.
“I am interested in getting the right information to the right people in the right way—whether that be through advocacy, education, or technical products,” she explains.
Looking back on her journey, Oria hopes to inspire future generations of students to be kind to themselves.
“School can be hard, job searching can be hard, working can be hard... nothing is gained by also being hard on yourself,” she advises. “Being patient and forgiving towards yourself makes life easier.”
She encourages others to embrace unexpected opportunities, sharing how a detour into social media during COVID-19 equipped her with unique skills that furthered her career at WHO.
“My social media experience furthered my career in ways I never could have imagined! Don’t be afraid to take ‘side quests’ in your job journey. You never know what skills will come in handy!”
Oria’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of perseverance, embracing new opportunities, and the lasting impact of mentors like Dr. Forbes.
