Emlah Tubuo arrived in the United States with only $300. She worked to get an education, secured a home and has built a family. Now Tubuo has built her own business — Powell Pharmacy, just outside of Columbus, Oh. Black women leave us in awe each day, as they defy all odds. Tubuo is no different — an educated mother, entrepreneur and possessor of all things magical.
Tubuo understands the need for quality medical care and developed a true passion for helping others at a young age. Growing up in Cameroon she suffered from dysentery, malaria and typhoid fever, all preventable diseases. Even with her challenges, Tubuo earned a degree in microbiology in Cameroon. She developed a great admiration for pharmacists from the US while working at a World Health Organization preventive health clinic. Their influence drove Tubuo to emigrate to the US, where she earned a master’s degree in molecular biology at Chicago State University. Afterwards, she went to Columbus and earned her doctorate from Ohio State University’s College of Pharmacy.
Tubuo went on to work for Kroger as a pharmacist for 8 years and later for Nationwide Children’s Hospital as an ambulatory care pharmacist. She learned the business and prepared herself to become an entrepreneur. Today Tubuo is married with three children, ages 9, 7 and 4. Even with all of her responsibilities as a spouse and parent, she has found the time to open up an independent pharmacy to provide care for those in need of it. She hopes to compete based on the quality of relationships that she is able to build with patients, a glaring rarity in today’s medical landscape. Due to her incredible experience and journey, Tubuo is confident that she can withstand the pressures of the competitive environment that she is stepping into.
Turbuo’s store grand opening will be on June 6th. Her journey to entrepreneurship simply validates what we all know — Black women are magical and that with resilience, we can achieve our ultimate goals. Health is wealth and certainly healthcare presents a range of opportunities to serve while making a good living. Emlah Tubuo is just another Black entrepreneur choosing to do so.
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