1. Tell us about yourself. I’m a senior at Ohio University, majoring in Biological Sciences. In my free time I love to read, work-out and try new food. My main extracurriculars are my volunteer positions with a food bank/soup kitchen and hospice care. Due to growing up in similar conditions, I plan to serve underserved and disadvantaged communities as a physician, so volunteering in such settings is important to me. I am currently on the road to becoming the first physician in my family.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you?  My favorite teacher was my high school sophomore English teacher, Mrs. Repko. Her confidence in me as a student and as a person, allowed me to be more confident as well. She taught me how to articulate and defend my positions and she always said, “When I see you, I see a leader. I can’t wait until you see the same in yourself.”

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why?Like many other pre-med students, diseases and illnesses experienced by myself and my family members highlighted the impact of medicine on our daily lives. More specifically, my father’s rare disorder piqued my interest in the field of medicine. As a middle-school student, I researched my father’s condition, and was fascinated by the intricacies of the human body that I had been introduced to; The newfound fascination coupled with my desire to improve the lives of others, especially through their health, showed me that medicine would be my career of choice.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in?  I am interested in specializing in pediatrics, family medicine, or psychiatry. These specialties are know for having significant continuity of care so the long-term relationship cultivated with each patient is why these three specialties resonate with me.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey?  The coolest experience I’ve had so far was working in a psychology research lab on a study that involved experiments with human participants (IRB approved of course). Working in a research setting that involved people was much different, and in my opinion, more rewarding, than the science bench research that other pre-meds around me have described. As a physician, I expect to regularly speak with patients and recognize medical issues, which is similar to the experimental exercises that I’ve done with research participants.

6. What is your favorite book? My favorite book is Graceling. I love fantasy and dystopian genres, and this book is definitely the best that I’ve ever read.

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. One interesting thing about me that most people don’t know is that I am bilingual; I speak English and Yoruba, a West African language.

8. If you couldn’t be a doctor, what would you want to do?  If I could not be a doctor, I would probably be a teacher. I enjoy the sharing of knowledge and assisting others in their understanding of topics.

9. What has been your biggest obstacle as a premed and how did you (or are you) overcome it?  My biggest obstacle as a pre-med has been with experiencing imposter syndrome. Attending a PWI, and not seeing many people who looked like me on a similar path to medical school, made me question my abilities and sense of belonging. To combat these feelings, I searched for and found African-American mentors, who are in various stages of medical training. Their presence, advice and encouragement have made a world of a difference.

10. What do you like most about Diverse Medicine?  The community feel of Diverse Medicine is my favorite aspect of the website. Every user willingly uplifts another and offers advice for the betterment of fellow users. It is a positive space that explores our journeys as pre-meds and prepares us for what lies ahead.

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