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Sharonda Cox

University of Kentucky physician and Survivor 51 contestant.

Biography

Sharonda Cox is a physician and Survivor 51 contestant whose medical training has been based at the University of Kentucky.

Sharonda Cox entered Survivor 51 while training in obstetrics and gynecology at Kentucky. Her earlier work included counseling and starting a clinic in Haiti. She has described links between medical training, listening and teamwork, and outlined plans for further maternal-fetal medicine training after completing residency.

Known for

Contestant

Survivor 51

Sharonda Cox competed on Survivor 51 in 2026.[2]

Career highlights

  1. Career 1

    Obstetrics and gynecology residency

    In September 2026, the university identified her as a fourth-year resident in obstetrics and gynecology. Her work includes maternity care and supporting patients through both routine deliveries and medical emergencies.[1][3]

  2. Career 2

    Therapy, a clinic and medical training

    Before medical school, Cox worked as a mental health therapist and moved to Haiti, where she started a medical clinic. She told the university that delivering a baby during a medical-school rotation helped confirm her decision to pursue obstetrics and gynecology. Her account also emphasized an interest in addressing unequal access to care.[3]

  3. Career 3

    Her stated fellowship plans

    Cox said she expected to finish residency in summer 2027 and planned to stay at Kentucky for a three-year fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine. That is a training plan she described in September 2026, rather than a completed qualification. The field focuses on higher-risk pregnancies and would extend her work in obstetrics.[3]

  4. Career 4

    Auditioning after a hospital shift

    Her Survivor application grew out of family viewing during the pandemic. In an interview with WKYT, Cox recalled eventually recording an audition after a demanding hospital shift. She described the long hours and unexpected situations of residency as useful preparation, and said communicating with different personalities at work was another skill she brought to the competition.[4]

  5. Career 5

    Returning to hospital work

    Cox also used the interview to discuss representing Kentucky and the Appalachian communities she serves. After filming, she returned to hospital work almost immediately. Looking back with the university, she said the strongest connection between medicine and Survivor was listening carefully, including recognizing when another person needed support and when she should let someone else lead. She described returning with a greater appreciation for being present in daily life.[3][4]