Tolu Akinade

I’m Tolu! I grew up predominantly in High Point, North Carolina. My family is of Nigerian heritage, and I am the oldest of 3 girls in my family. We moved to Doha, Qatar in 2008 and after graduating from high school at the American School of Doha, I attended Columbia University as a Biomedical Engineering/ pre-med major. During college, my interest in medicine broadened to encompass biomedical research and I spent four years working in a tissue engineering lab. My passions for both medicine and biomedical research led me on the path to pursuing my MD/PhD at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physician & Surgeons. I was closely involved in the Black and Latino students’ organization (BALSO) where I served as the mentorship chair, and APOYO, a group providing mentorship and prenatal/childcare classes for pregnant adolescents. I also had the opportunity to work as a senior clinician with Columbia’s CoSMO Behavioral Health Clinic which was a formative experience in my path to pursuing Psychiatry. During my free time, I enjoy spending time in nature with my husband & our dog Mochi, doing Pilates, listening to podcasts, and discovering new restaurants.