What led you to pursue a career in medicine?
As a little girl growing up in Nigeria, I always wanted to become a doctor even before I knew what the word meant. I must have been inspired by my father who is a physician and who continues to be my greatest inspiration. As I got older, my experience with healthcare in Nigeria left me simultaneously inspired and frustrated by a system overrun with limitations. I saw the effects of inadequate healthcare on a community and my determination to make a positive influence led me to my decision to take on the medical path.
What are your goals after you complete residency? Where do you see yourself?
I hope to specialize in cardiology after residency. I am especially interested in cardiovascular diseases in women and how health disparities affect cardiovascular health. So, I see myself working in an underserved community and addressing these issues.
Why did you choose Yale IMed for your residency?
Whenever I am asked why I chose Yale, my answer is always “the people.” When I was thinking about how tough residency will be, I wanted a place where I would feel supported and I have felt a sense of belonging since my first day here. There is no doubt that the training is superb and the research opportunities are vast, but more importantly, the people here are genuinely nice and friendly. I like to say that being at Yale is like being with family, and there is honestly no place I would rather be. Another major reason I chose Yale is because of their commitment to recruiting people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Before applying to Yale for residency I had heard about the efforts of the Yale Minority Housestaff Organization (MHO), which is an organization that is dedicated to creating a supportive environment for minority residents and fellows throughout Yale. It is unique to have an organization where trainees across all specialties can come together and feel supported. It was important for me to be in a program with such an organization.
Describe your experience at Yale IMed in 3 words.
Rigorous, inspiring, nurturing.
What is your fondest memory at Yale thus far?
Spending time and having fun with my co-residents.
Who has had the greatest influence on you, and why?
Throughout my life’s journey, I have met so many wonderful people that have influenced me but my greatest influence is my family. My parents and my sister for their unconditional love and for being my backbone.
If you could say anything to your younger self, what would you say?
It would be this perfect quote from a graduation card I received last year; “Never underestimate all the wonderful things you're capable of, the impact of your dreams and ideas, your uniqueness, and all you have to offer the world.”
What's a fun fact about you?
I love fashion and traveling. If I was not in medicine, I would probably be working in the fashion industry and traveling around the world. I am also one of the co-presidents of the Yale Minority Housestaff Organization (MHO). Yale MHO partners with the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, SNMA and LMSA for events targeted towards recruitment and building a diverse workforce. There is no doubt that diversity in the workforce improves the quality of care that physicians give as well increases patients’ overall compliance and satisfaction, so I am very pleased to be part of MHO
What is one piece of advice you'd give someone who is applying for residency?
Trust your gut feeling as you go through the interview process. Residency is tough so choose a place that is a good fit for YOU.
What have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments since the beginning of the pandemic?
The biggest challenge for me was the social distancing and travel restrictions. It was tough not to physically hang out with friends or travel home to visit my family. My biggest accomplishment was working in the COVID units during the peak of the pandemic. It was one of the times that I truly felt like I was making an impact.
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