Meet Helios-Black Leadership Network Scholar: Joshua Mukendi
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Expected Graduation: 2027
Growing up as a first-generation child, with both of my parents from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, education was always emphasized as the key to unlocking greater opportunities. In African households, it is common to hear, “You need to be a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.” Luckily for my parents, I am pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering at the University of South Florida on a pre-med track. I have challenged myself with this rigorous academic path throughout my time at USF because I fully believe it is attainable.
Receiving the Helios Black Leadership Network Scholarship was a transformative moment in my academic career. The Helios BLN scholarship alleviated much of the financial pressure, allowing me to focus more on my studies. With this support, I was able to shadow at Tampa General Hospital for neurosurgery, as well as Blake Hospital for anesthesiology.
Beyond financial assistance, BLN has provided me with a community of mentors and peers who are navigating similar challenges. Even though it’s rare to find someone pursuing both biomedical engineering and a pre-med track, it enabled me to learn a lot from two separate groups of people. This scholarship has impacted my education and strengthened my confidence in pursuing opportunities.
My aspirations include working at the intersection of medicine and engineering, whether as a cardiologist or developing medical equipment such as MRI machines. Ultimately, I aspire to give back to communities, like some of the people in the Congo, by enhancing efficiency and accessibility in healthcare technology.