Coletti’s calling over 5,000 miles away from home

Coletti's calling over 5,000 miles away from home

Cora Coletti ('25) is applying her global health education in Uganda.

Sofia Bailey | 11/06/2026

When Lipscomb University alumna Cora Coletti ('25) was 10 years old, she felt a calling from God to practice medicine in Africa. Nearly a decade later, she is fulfilling that calling 5,000 miles away from home, helping children in Uganda at Watoto Church.

During her time at Lipscomb, Coletti studied English with minors in biology and chemistry. Outside the classroom, she worked closely with the IDEAL program, which deepened her understanding of and love for people living with disabilities.

Coletti recalled how Lipscomb prepared her for real-world experiences. "Academically, Lipscomb prepared me well for my master's degree," Coletti said. "I had the chance to study so many different areas at once: chemistry, biology and English."

She also traveled to Africa during her summer breaks and soon learned that she could pursue a career in global health after an encouraging conversation with Matt Hearn, professor of English and HPAC (Health Professions Advisory Committee) director. After graduating with her bachelor's degree from Lipscomb, she went on to complete her Master of Science in global health at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

During her time at Georgetown University, Coletti spent 14 weeks doing field work at the Dodowa Health Research Center in Ghana, researching the lived experiences and health-seeking behaviors of people with disabilities and working on her research paper titled, "Understanding the Prevalence of Disability and the Lived Experiences and Health Seeking Behaviors of Persons with Disabilities in the Shai-Osudoku and Ningo Prampram Districts".

Coletti seemingly wasted no time following the plan God had placed on her heart after completing her master's in fall 2026. After her time at Dodowa, Coletti then flew to Uganda, where she now works within the childcare ministry of Watoto Church. "I love the community. I love the way people do life together, no matter what," Coletti said. "You can't do anything alone in Africa. Nobody is a stranger."

Coletti is serving within two different Watoto Childcare Villages which gives her the opportunity to serve within and beyond the village walls. Her journey reflects Lipscomb's approach to vocation-driven learning, pairing rigorous academics with mentorship and immersive service, preparing graduates to meet global health needs with deep knowledge and compassion. "Lipscomb taught us, in a lot of ways, how to make your faith a part of what you're doing and how to live it out," she said. "There's a vocation in everything."

For more information about Lipscomb's programs in health sciences, visit lipscomb.edu/health-and-human-sciences.