Dr. Christy O’Dea has dedicated her life to advocating for others, leading with empathy, integrity, and a profound commitment to supporting vulnerable communities. She does not simply believe in equity in healthcare. She lives it every day, across communities, cultures, and borders.
Throughout her career, Dr. O’Dea has stood alongside those too often overlooked, including the poor, the marginalized, and the medically underserved. Her work is not defined by moments of service, but by sustained, intentional partnership. Through her leadership with Shoulder to Shoulder in Honduras, where she has lived and worked, she has built lasting relationships rooted in dignity, trust, and respect, advancing health equity in communities where access to care is limited.
Her global impact extends to Guatemala, where for more than a decade she has partnered with Wuqu’ Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance to expand access to high-quality, culturally grounded care for Indigenous Maya communities. She does not arrive briefly and move on. She shows up, she listens, and she stays, demonstrating a deep and abiding commitment to justice in action.
In Cincinnati, Dr. O’Dea served as Medical Director of Crossroad Health Center, providing compassionate care to underserved populations while helping shape the future of medicine. As a mentor and educator, she teaches students that medicine requires not only clinical expertise, but also empathy, humility, and a responsibility to serve. Her impact extends far beyond the patients she treats through the future physicians she inspires. Now Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. O’Dea also practices at Price Hill Health Center, serving a largely immigrant patient population.
Dr. O’Dea leads with quiet strength and profound humility, never seeking recognition, yet consistently inspiring others to act with courage and compassion. Whether advocating for an individual patient or building systems that uplift entire communities, she demonstrates that being an upstander is not a single act, but a lifelong commitment.
Her work reminds us that the pursuit of justice is both local and global, and that one person’s dedication can transform countless lives. Dr. Christy O’Dea is shaping a more equitable future for healthcare and exemplifies the very best of humanity.
Join us in celebrating Dr. Christy O’Dea at our Cohen Family Upstander Gala on June 14th, reserve your spot today!
Cohen Family Upstander Month is generously supported by Duke Energy, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Museum Center, and the Mayerson Family Foundation.
