Tia Clay is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine, preparing to apply for residency in Family and Community Medicine. She first joined the Global Shapers in the Sacramento Hub in 2019 and now serves as Vice Curator of the Chicago Hub, having previously held roles including Membership Chair and Project Lead. She is also one of only 50 inaugural members of Future50, the flagship program of the Global Shapers Community in collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s Global Foresight Network. This initiative equips emerging leaders with the skills, networks, and influence to embed intergenerational foresight into global decision-making and to advance policies that safeguard the interests of both present and future generations.

With a deep commitment to health equity, Tia seeks to bridge her clinical training with community-centered innovation. Her work focuses on addressing social determinants of health, advancing policy solutions, and expanding access to basic needs as a foundation for well-being. She spearheaded Southside Market, a cooperative microgrocer designed to improve food access on Chicago’s South Side, which informed policy recommendations she presented to the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation. These recommendations directly led to the creation of a task force supporting entrepreneurial and philanthropic investments in underserved neighborhoods across Chicago.

In addition, Tia led Shred the Debt: Greater Chicago Region, a project that forgave $1.7 million in medical debt for Chicagoans. She also serves as a core member of the Shred the Debt national team, which was awarded the 2025 Innovation Prize alongside the Sacramento and Oakland Hubs for scaling the initiative into a United States–wide effort.

Beyond her project leadership, Tia is deeply devoted to mentorship as a cornerstone of her personal and professional mission. She has guided high school students through iMentor, supported pre-medical students navigating higher education, and mentored peers and juniors within medical school. Through these efforts, she provides not only academic and professional guidance but also personal support for those walking similar paths in medicine and community leadership.

Through her leadership within the Global Shapers Community, her role as a member of Future50, and her commitment to mentorship across multiple levels, Tia seeks to combine foresight, medicine, and community action to advance health equity, strengthen resilience, and create lasting impact for future generations.