May 14, 2025
Some of the most influential leaders are those who carry the weight of personal struggle into their professional purpose. These individuals transform challenges into tools for change. Eugene Manley Jr., PhD, is one of them. As the founder and CEO of the STEMM & Cancer Health Equity (SCHEQ) Foundation, he built his mission of dismantling medical, societal, and educational barriers from his own lived experiences.
Dr. Manley was born and raised in inner-city Detroit. As a child, he was used to suffering from asthma attacks and anaphylactic allergies that usually landed him in the hospital multiple times a year. Health struggles weren’t the only battles he fought. Navigating the healthcare system was also a challenge.
His family struggled to understand the complex and jargon-filled medical documents handed to them during each hospital visit. Dr. Manley saw how others in underserved communities suffer from similar situations. “If people can’t access or understand the information they need to make decisions about their care, how can they possibly be expected to survive?” says Dr. Manley.
These experiences didn’t dim young Dr. Manley’s love for science. Although he didn’t have anyone to help him understand college applications or research careers, he was fiercely self-motivated. “I knew education was key for a better future,” he shares. This determination led him to his first science project on tar and nicotine content in cigarettes. The project was inspired by his father’s smoking and a desire to learn more about the threats to his health.
Dr. Manley persevered despite being bullied for his academic leanings. This persistence paid off when a perceptive high school science teacher recognized his spark and helped him land his first research apprenticeship. “I saw a future in science. I realized this path is where I could make a difference,” Dr. Manley states. Later, the first-generation scholar earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering, and a PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry.
After years in research and nonprofit leadership, including a role as the Director of STEM Workforce Initiatives at LUNGevity, Dr. Manley noticed a troubling issue. Systemic barriers hinder diverse populations from entering STEMM fields and surviving in healthcare systems. SCHEQ was born to break these hurdles.
The organization develops mentorship programs, builds equitable frameworks for clinical trials, and works with schools and community groups to introduce underrepresented youth to the possibilities of science. SCHEQ helps organizations design curricula, evaluate impact, and remove blind spots perpetuating inequality.
Dr. Manley’s work is all about transformation. He speaks passionately about the need for culturally relevant mentorship and the power of visibility. “If kids see someone like me doing this, they know it’s possible,” he says. Dr. Manley pertains not to wearing a lab coat but building organizations, shaping policy, leading summits, and mentoring the next generation of Black and Latino scientists and healthcare leaders.
Dr. Manley’s vision extends to changing how information is delivered to patients. “If we can’t make information digestible and understandable to people, we’ve failed,” he says. He believes access to empowering information is integral. Hence, Dr. Manley advocates for breaking down information silos that trap people in cycles of confusion, delay, and poor outcomes.
In addition, Dr. Manley sees untapped potential in the curiosity of youth. He encourages students and parents to explore science, whether through after-school programs, YouTube videos, or science kits. “You’ve got to foster that curiosity, and you’ve got to be content being the only one doing it. That’s hard. But if you’re different for a reason, that reason can change lives,” he says. For Dr. Manley, difference is a strength. When he was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, he looked at it as a superpower that fuels his innovative thinking and expansive vision.
Dr. Manley remains committed to turning adversity into impact. In fact, his ultimate vision is as bold as it is human. He shares: “My bigger vision is that we would have much lower disparities in cancer, and that everyone would get access to the care they need in a timely manner. I want to have more underrepresented kids in STEMM and in careers conducting research that impacts communities. If we can do that, it would be what I call a win.”
Source: Village Voice – https://www.villagevoice.com/turning-lived-experience-into-impact-dr-eugene-manleys-story-as-a-leader-in-health-equity-and-stemm-access/
