US-based Cameroonian gets America’s Best in Medicine Honour.

According to a note attributed to the publication, Dr Mary Abeck Akwa-Tchoyi, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, based in Plano, Texas, United States of America, is being honoured for her “exceptional work and presence” in the healthcare sector.

In a note sent to her, the Magazine said the nomination is based on Dr Akwa-Tchoyi’s “exceptional work and presence in the medical field”.

It indicated that she will “be featured in the upcoming edition of Best in Medicine Magazine’s Texas edition,” in celebration of her “contributions to healthcare”.

The same letter praised her “dedication, expertise and commitment to excellence” that have set her, “apart from your peers, earning you this distinguished honour”.

For Dr Akwa-Tchoyi, the honour elevates not just her practice, but the visibility of Cameroonian professionals excelling abroad. She added that it places her as a proud alumni of Cameroon’s public education system-among an elite group of professionals blazing the trail in the diaspora.

 Observers say the prestigious honour also acknowledges her significant contributions, particularly within the highly demanding specialty of Nurse Practitioner Care. 

Dr Akwa-Tchoyi’s journey from her academic foundation in Cameroon to acquiring multiple, high-level certifications in the US, many say, is a powerful narrative of purpose-driven excellence.

Dr Akwa-Tchoyi’s unique trajectory

What sets Dr Mary Akwa-Tchoyi apart is not just her doctorate, but the extraordinary breadth of her expertise, an accomplishment that is rare, even in the hyper-specialised American medical landscape.

She has to her credit among other certifications; Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified (PMHNP-BC); Family Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified (FNP-BC); Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN); Graduate Certified Public Health Professional and Graduate Certified Tropical Medicine Professional. 

She is also a Psychotherapist, certified in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-C) and Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT-C).

Between 2011 and 2018, she spent a greater part of her time serving in Cameroon. Through such service, she gained a firsthand experience on challenges and significant gaps within the Cameroonian healthcare system. 

It was based on such experience that she returned to the United States and furthered her studies to better position herself in contributing to boosting Cameroon’s health sector.

Dr. Akwa-Tchoyi recognized the acute shortage of healthcare specialists in Cameroon and felt an imperative to be "well-rounded" to effectively give back to her country of origin. 

Her ambition is to provide multifaceted support, addressing various dimensions of patient care and public health needs, she once said, remain paramount.

Dr Akwa-Tchoyi's success story is a powerful illustration of the Cameroonian-American diaspora’s potential to uplift both their adopted nation and their homeland. 

By mastering highly sought-after specialties like Psychiatric Mental Health- a field where practitioners are desperately needed, she is able to serve diverse communities.

Her journey, others are stating, is an inspiration- a true demonstration that exceptional dedication, combined with a selfless humanitarian vision, can lead to both personal triumph and global impact. 

They say her work embodies the highest standards of care.

Dr Akwa-Tchoyi embarked on her intensive return to academia in March 2019. 

Today, she has multiple certifications, culminating in a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP).  She graduated with a Grade Point Average, GPA of 4.0, emerging first in her faculty and second out of 1700 graduates.

Dr Akwa-Tchoyi credits Government High School Mamfe, MAGGSOSA, and CCAST Bambili, for her educational foundation. She said the public schools provided her with quality education for “little or nothing” and instilled in her a profound sense of gratitude and responsibility. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3621 of Monday November 10, 2025