Born in Cameroon, Josiane Noubossi Ngaffo’s early life was shaped by deep family ties and the realities of traditional living. Her biological father had two wives and many children, and it was her uncle—himself a retired government worker and wheelchair-bound due to gout and rheumatoid arthritis—who took her in and raised her.
Watching her uncle suffer from severe pressure ulcers caused by prolonged sitting and poor circulation left a deep mark on young Josiane. Cameroon lacked private caregivers, so family members had to step in. At just nine years old, Josiane began helping her uncle with daily tasks and wound care, unknowingly laying the foundation for her future career in healthcare.
This early exposure to caregiving wasn’t just practical—it was personal. Her biological father also suffered from gout, and he would proudly tell colleagues that Josiane would one day become a doctor and find a cure for the disease that plagued their family.
After high school, Josiane pursued her passion and enrolled in nursing school in Cameroon, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Sadly, both her uncle and father passed away before she graduated, leaving her with a sense of loss but also a strengthened resolve to dedicate her life to caring for others.
Upon moving to the United States, Josiane began by completing her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training and working in nursing homes. Her journey didn’t stop there—she went back to school to earn a second bachelor’s degree in nursing, followed by a master’s degree.
Today, Josiane is a committed and compassionate nurse who continues to grow in her field. Her short-term goal is to keep advancing in nursing in the U.S., and her long-term dream is to open a clinic in America and eventually return to school to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
But her vision extends beyond borders. Josiane also hopes to open a psychiatric clinic in Cameroon to support mental health care in her home country—a field often overlooked but deeply needed.
From a young girl caring for her uncle’s wounds to a seasoned nurse with global dreams, Josiane Noubossi Ngaffo is living proof that compassion, purpose, and resilience can shape not only a career—but a legacy.
