Mercy Lifting Adekola

Mercy earned a BSPH in environmental health sciences and a BS in chemistry with highest honors. She was inducted into Delta Omega, the national public health honor society, recognizing her academic excellence, leadership, and service. At Carolina, she served as co-chair of the Minority Health Conference—the country’s largest and longest-running student-led health conference—where she crafted and led the 2025 theme, “Bridging the Digital Divide: Leveraging Technology and Data for Health Equity.” Her honors thesis with the UNC Water Institute explored how water infrastructure impacts healthcare delivery in low- and middle-income countries. She worked as a dental assistant at a community health center, providing patient care in both English and Spanish, reinforcing her commitment to equitable oral healthcare access. Mercy served as an analytical chemistry peer mentor and resident advisor for three years. During her time at Carolina, she founded NailsHaveMercy, a nail artistry business that merges her creativity with care and a skill set she brings to dentistry spaces.