Obiageri Opara, NP

Rita Opara believes in building relationships with patients to create a continuity of care. She finds that empowering her patients with the knowledge of their concerns, setting goals, and making them a partner is rewarding. Obiageri loves to educate her patients and inspire them to take control of their health, helping them to understand their diagnosis and to implement lifestyle modifications that can positively impact their quality of life. Rita was born and raised in Nigeria, Africa. She relocated to the United States at the age of 12 with her parents and five siblings. Rita grew up in a close-knit family in Detroit. Her upbringing shaped her core beliefs of friendship, family, loyalty, and compassion. Her interest in nursing started during middle school when she volunteered at a long-term care facility. She learned a lot about healthcare, nurturing, and empowerment. She also discovered through the interactions with the residents how therapeutic and comforting a smile, a friendly conversation, and a helping hand could be. This expe- rience showed her how rewarding it is to help others and for that she will always be grateful. Rita completed both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing locally at the University of Detroit Mercy. Rita’s parents always taught her that all things worthwhile require hard work. Becoming a nurse practitioner was challenging, but she knew it would be a rewarding career.