Preparing to drive change in healthcare

Who says you can’t go home again? Certainly not Rembert Uriah Ford (BA ’20, MBA ’25).

Ford had already earned his undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill when he entered the Full-Time MBA Program at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.

“I have a deep love for UNC,” says Ford, a North Carolina native. “It already felt like home away from home. I grew up a UNC fan. A lot of my family went to UNC, so I think it was destined in the stars for me to end up back at UNC.”

The road back home wasn’t the traditional MBA route. After he earned his BA in public policy at UNC, Ford worked at the nonprofit Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity Inc. He led the North Carolina CARES Assistance Program to provide aid for people impacted by COVID-19 pandemic in five Tier 1 counties across North Carolina.

He ran food drives, food bank deposits, back-to-school drives, mortgage and rent assistance and more to help people stay in their homes during challenging times. He also led efforts to build partnerships with other organizations to expand the group’s impact. Ford ended up helping 271 families, including some from his own hometown of Henderson.

North Carolina Central University reached out to Ford to serve as a research assistant within the Julius L. Chambers Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Institute. He directed a team of lab scientists to deliver free healthcare to underserved communities in North Carolina and was a grant manager for the university.

“I drove our mobile health unit into the rural parts of North Carolina to deliver free health interventions,” he says. “I was involved with cancer and liver research projects, maternal health and mental health. It was a great mix of everything, which grew my interest in wanting to be a part of the health of people’s lives.”

A healthy prospect

That desire to help increase people’s access to healthcare led Ford to earn his MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler and earn a healthcare concentration.

“Just stepping back on campus really brought back the Carolina Blue that was already running through my veins,” he says. “Everyone at UNC Kenan-Flagler was so welcoming. They truly care about your success and that’s evident from the program office, professors and students. It was great to have an instant support system from day one.”

Coming in with no formal finance training was both a challenge and an opportunity.

“I made it a challenge for myself to learn finance,” he says. “No matter what you do in life, you must know a little something about money. I came out knowing enough to be dangerous, but I’m definitely not going to be on Wall Street.”

Professor Greg Hohn’s Applied Improv class taught him “to adapt to different situations, whether in business or everyday life on the elevator, getting coffee or in situations where you don’t have a calculator or need to make a SWOT analysis,” he says. “Being able to present yourself well and respond to others is extremely important, especially for new graduates starting their careers.”

Healthcare Brand Plan taught by Professor Markus Saba was his favorite course.

“His class gave students the unique opportunity to step into the role of a manager within a pharmaceutical company and develop a brand plan for a real-world product,” says Ford. “Brand representatives presented their products to us, and Professor Saba provided an in-depth breakdown of the brand planning process. His industry expertise and hands-on teaching approach made the learning experience incredibly engaging and practical.”

Clubbing at B-school

Ford found both opportunity and a sense of belonging through extracurricular clubs and a community that broadened his horizons.

“Clubs were a great outlet for connecting with others,” says Ford, who held leadership roles in the Black Business Student Association and the Latin American Student Association. “Most clubs are student-led, so we shape the events and activities, making it easy to find shared values and experiences. Being involved gave me leadership opportunities and connected me with people beyond academics, building a stronger sense of community.”

His favorite UNC Kenan-Flagler tradition is the “Around the World” event. “Students showcase their heritages through traditional dances, clothing and food from their home countries, creating an immersive cultural experience for everyone. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with classmates on a deeper level while embracing and appreciating each other’s backgrounds. Beyond being a fun event, it highlights just how many different perspectives and experiences make up our program, something I have always valued.

“There are so many different backgrounds, whether it’s religious backgrounds, racial backgrounds, what you did professionally before school, what you’ll be doing after school,” he says. “The program is cool because you have all these people in one area for two years, so you can learn from each other and try to teach somebody else something new.”

His broad engagement in the community earned him the MBA Program team’s award for building a culture of excellence and his peers’ nominations for inclusion and innovation awards.

Running to the future

Ford moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts to join Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, where he had a summer internship. He’s working in its commercial leadership development program, rotating through different business areas like value and access, sales and new product planning.

He leaves behind quite a legacy at UNC Kenan-Flagler, says classmate Maria Alejandra Jaramillo (MBA ’25).

“What set Uriah apart was his unwavering support for others, his purpose-driven leadership and his ability to bring laughter and joy into any room,” she says. “Uriah’s leadership is rooted in authenticity and his actions are driven by a deep commitment to others. He didn’t just build connections — he built community. His legacy at UNC Kenan-Flagler is one of strength, inclusivity and lasting influence — an inspiration for our class and undoubtedly future classes.

Read more about Ford in Poets & Quants and Clear Admit.