We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Osei Boateng. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Osei below.
Osei, appreciate you joining us today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
I have changed my professional trajectory twice, each time driven by heartbreak, purpose, and an unwavering desire to serve.
The first moment came when I shifted from pursuing medicine to healthcare management. Growing up in Ghana, I saw the devastating impact of healthcare disparities on my community and my own family. People traveled miles—sometimes entire days—just to reach the nearest healthcare facility, only to be turned away or met with inadequate care. I’ll never forget the pain of losing my grandmother and my auntie to these inefficiencies. Their lives could have been saved had they received timely care. That loss ignited a fire in me, a vow that I would dedicate my life to ensuring no one else had to endure the heartbreak of losing a loved one simply because they couldn’t access care.
At first, I believed becoming a doctor was the only way to make that difference. I imagined myself treating patients, one life at a time, bringing hope to the underserved. But while taking health policy classes, I had a revelation: doctors might provide care, but it’s healthcare administrators who shape the systems, policies, and decisions that make care possible—or impossible. Administrators determine what resources hospitals have, the insurance plans they accept, and the communities they serve. That realization changed everything for me. I pivoted to healthcare management, determined to influence healthcare on a systemic level and bring cost-effective, quality care to those who needed it most.
After earning my Master’s in Healthcare Administration at Cornell University, I immersed myself in a fellowship at Henry Ford Health System. For two years, I absorbed everything I could, knowing my ultimate purpose lay beyond the walls of any hospital in the U.S. I carried a dream in my heart—a vision to transform healthcare in Ghana.
The second defining moment came when I chose to leave the security of my job and step into the unknown. It was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I couldn’t ignore the calling. I founded OKB Hope Foundation to serve the rural and underserved communities I had always carried in my heart. Since then, we’ve reached over 80 communities and touched more than 10,000 lives through our mobile health van, equipped with essential medical supplies and staffed by dedicated healthcare providers.
I’ll never forget moments like seeing a mother’s tears of relief when her child received life-saving care or watching a once-neglected community embrace hope again. Every mile traveled, every life impacted, is a testament to the power of purpose and persistence.
This journey has taught me that real change requires sacrifice, faith, and an unrelenting belief in the cause. It’s taught me that even from heartbreak, something beautiful and transformative can rise. My story is a reminder that when you align your life’s work with your deepest calling, the impact is immeasurable.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Osei Kwadwo Boateng, and my life’s mission is deeply personal: to ensure that no one has to suffer or lose a loved one because they couldn’t access healthcare. Growing up in Ghana, I saw the devastating realities of healthcare disparities. Families in my community often traveled for miles—sometimes days—just to reach a clinic, only to be met with long lines, inadequate care, or no help at all.
I know the pain of these challenges intimately. I lost both my grandmother and auntie because they couldn’t get the care they needed in time. Those losses broke me but also awakened a fire in my soul—a calling to dedicate my life to making healthcare accessible to the most vulnerable. I promised myself that no one else should have to endure the heartbreak of losing loved ones to something as preventable as a lack of access to care.
That promise gave birth to the OKB Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization that brings life-saving healthcare to the doorsteps of rural and underserved communities in Ghana. We’ve equipped a mobile medical unit with vital supplies, diagnostic tools, and medications, staffed it with seasoned healthcare professionals, and set out to meet people where they are. To date, we’ve served over 10,000 individuals across more than 80 rural communities.
But we don’t stop at physical health. Through our Wohohiame Wellness initiative, we’ve also brought mental health support to over 3,000 high school students—because we know that healing must address the mind as well as the body. We don’t just provide care; we restore dignity, hope, and the belief that every life matters.
This work is deeply fulfilling, but my vision doesn’t stop there. Beyond the grassroots impact of OKB Hope Foundation, I wanted to address systemic barriers to healthcare affordability and accessibility. That’s why I co-founded OneHealth+, a healthcare solutions platform that bridges gaps in preventative and primary care.
At OneHealth+, we’ve developed services like the Healthpass, offering bundled care packages, and a health credits system, enabling individuals and businesses to prepay for healthcare services for themselves or their employees. These solutions empower people to prioritize their health without the stress of cost or bureaucracy. Our work is designed to make healthcare affordable, flexible, and convenient—because no one should ever have to choose between their health and their livelihood.
Together, OKB Hope Foundation and OneHealth+ are two sides of the same mission: to create a world where healthcare is no longer a privilege but a basic right. I believe that healthcare systems can and must put people over profit, and I’ve dedicated my life to making that vision a reality.
What sets me apart isn’t just my professional background—from earning my Master’s in Healthcare Administration at Cornell University to my fellowship at Henry Ford Health System—but the deeply personal conviction behind everything I do. My work is rooted in pain and loss but driven by purpose and hope.
What I’m most proud of are the lives we’ve touched. I’ve seen the relief in a mother’s eyes when her child received care that saved their life. I’ve heard the laughter of students learning how to care for their mental health for the first time. And I’ve felt the gratitude of entire communities transformed by the simple act of showing up for them.
To anyone reading this—whether you’re a potential supporter, client, or follower—know that our work is not just about healthcare. It’s about hope. It’s about dignity. It’s about ensuring that no one, anywhere, feels forgotten or unworthy of care.
At OKB Hope Foundation and OneHealth+, we are not just building systems or offering services. We are building a future where healthcare is accessible, affordable, and equitable for all. This is my life’s work, and I invite you to join me on this journey. Together, we can make this vision a reality.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the most defining moments in my journey that truly tested my resilience came during the early days of the OKB Hope Foundation. We had just started our mission of bringing healthcare to underserved communities in Ghana, and I vividly remember our first outreach to a small, remote village. We had planned meticulously, gathered a team of healthcare providers, and loaded our mobile health van with supplies. But as we traveled deep into the rural areas, the challenges began to mount.
The road to the village was treacherous—unpaved, muddy, and nearly impassable after a heavy downpour. At one point, our van got stuck in the mud, and we were hours behind schedule. Frustration and doubt began to creep in. I could see the exhaustion on my team’s faces, and for a brief moment, I questioned whether we would even make it.
But giving up was never an option. I thought about the people waiting for us—the mothers, fathers, children, and elders who had likely been traveling to reach our temporary clinic. I thought about my grandmother and auntie, whose lives could have been saved if someone had shown up for them. That thought fueled me.
Together with the team, we pushed the van out of the mud, our clothes drenched and hands blistered, but our spirits unwavering. When we finally arrived, hours later than expected, we were met with something that made every hardship worth it: a long line of people waiting for care. Some had been there since early morning, clinging to the hope that we would come.
That day, we treated over 200 people. For some, it was the first time in years they had seen a healthcare provider. I remember one elderly woman who held my hand tightly and said, “God bless you for not giving up on us.” Her words stayed with me.
That experience taught me that resilience is not just about enduring challenges—it’s about holding on to your purpose when everything seems to be working against you. It’s about showing up, no matter how difficult the journey, because someone’s life depends on it.
Since that day, we’ve faced countless obstacles, from logistical hurdles to funding gaps, but each time, we’ve found a way through. Today, the OKB Hope Foundation has served over 10,000 individuals across more than 80 communities, and I know that none of this would have been possible without resilience.
For me, resilience isn’t just a trait—it’s a commitment to the people we serve, to the vision of equitable healthcare, and to the belief that no challenge is insurmountable when the mission is greater than yourself.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What has helped me build my reputation in healthcare is staying true to my purpose and leading with a heart for service. My journey started from a deeply personal place—losing my grandmother and auntie because they couldn’t access timely healthcare. That pain became my motivation to ensure that no one else in rural and underserved communities would face the same preventable loss.
I believe my reputation has grown because I’ve always focused on creating impact rather than just chasing visibility. Whether through the OKB Hope Foundation, where we’ve brought free medical care to over 10,000 individuals in more than 80 rural communities, or through OneHealth+, which provides innovative and accessible healthcare solutions for individuals and employers, every step I’ve taken has been driven by the question: How can we make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and equitable?
Another factor that has set me apart is consistency in delivering results, even in the face of challenges. Building trust takes time, especially in the healthcare space, where people’s lives are at stake. By staying committed to our mission—whether it’s traveling through muddy roads to reach a village, equipping our mobile health vans with state-of-the-art tools, or ensuring every outreach is done with care and professionalism—we’ve shown that we don’t just talk about change; we deliver it.
Collaboration has also been key. I’ve built strong relationships with healthcare providers, volunteers, donors, and organizations that believe in our vision. These partnerships have amplified our efforts and allowed us to reach even more communities. People recognize that our work is not just about me—it’s about creating a movement for better healthcare in underserved areas.
Finally, what truly resonates with people is the personal connection to the work. I’m not just a CEO or a healthcare administrator; I’m someone who understands the stakes because I’ve lived them. That authenticity, combined with our measurable impact, has helped build a reputation for integrity, empathy, and unwavering commitment.
Ultimately, what I’m most proud of is not the recognition but the trust we’ve earned from the communities we serve and the lives we’ve touched. I hope that this reputation continues to inspire others to believe in the possibility of equitable healthcare, no matter where someone is born or how far they live from the nearest hospital.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.okbfoundation.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/okbhopefoundation/
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/OKBFOUNDATION
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/okb-hope-foundation/
- Twitter: https://x.com/OKBFoundation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@okbhopefoundation1757
