From GIS to Healthcare

Growing up while living in his hometown in Ghana, Dr. William Opoku-Agyeman aspired to be an engineer or medical doctor. But due to the extensive amount of required schooling, Opoku-Agyeman sought a different path. Guided by his uncle in natural resource management, he pursued a field in natural resources, a subject fueled by his love for outdoor activities. While researching this field, Opoku-Agyeman discovered Geographic Information Science (GIS) which combined his interests in programming, computers and geography. This eventually led him to earning a master’s degree in GIS from the University of Akron, where he also explored applications for GIS in public health.

Encouraged by his uncle, who saw GIS becoming a versatile skill in the future, Opoku-Agyeman realized its potential in healthcare, particularly in public health and epidemiology. “I think I owe a lot to my late uncle. What I tell people is that whatever you are doing in life right now, don't think you are doing it in a vacuum. Things will connect. Sometimes you don't even know how they connect, but eventually, they will,” he said. He continued his studies at Kent State University, earning a Master of Public Health, focusing on epidemiology and environmental health. Despite initial resistance to pursuing a PhD, he applied and was accepted into a PhD program in health administration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Although his initial plan was to quit after starting, he developed a passion for health administration and management.

In 2020, after completing his PhD and working as a faculty member at UAB, Opoku-Agyeman was recruited by the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences to help launch the new Master of Healthcare Administration program at UNC Wilmington. “I was attracted by this opportunity because it was totally different from my previous experience at any established institution. I was so excited to help build something new,” he said. After visiting Wilmington and exploring the campus, he accepted the position and started at UNCW in August 2020.

Currently, Opoku-Agyeman’s research revolves around healthcare management, informatics and policy that addresses the delivery of healthcare and quality improvement. He also researches Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs). FQHCs are outpatient clinics that provide a range of health services to people regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Opoku-Agyeman examines their structure, performance and their strategic expansion. “I spend a lot of time looking at how they spend money, how they strategically decide to expand and close, the organizational relationships that they have with hospitals and the key role that they play in providing care, especially for the uninsured in the local community,” he said.