Hometown: Bowie, MD
Undergraduate: La Salle University, BS in biology; philosophy minor

What drew you to medicine, and to the College of Medicine specifically?

I really love the health sciences and I wanted to help people using knowledge of these sciences at an individual and population level. Medicine seemed the best place to do this. I chose Drexel because I was very familiar with Philadelphia, because the fact didactics were online and would provide me a lot of flexibility for my other pursuits, and because Drexel had avenues for community engagement and a humanities curriculum.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself before you came to Drexel?

I am the child of two Nigerian immigrants. I grew up in Maryland with my three brothers. I played soccer my whole life and was blessed to be recruited to play for La Salle University in Philadelphia. I aspired to become a professional soccer player but after hip surgery in college, some self-reflection, and working jobs in public health as well as in a clinic, I realized medicine was my true dream.

You were a 2020 Bridging the Gaps Scholar. Tell me about your project, and how it influenced your medical school journey.

During the summer of 2020, I was lucky enough to be selected for the Bridging the Gaps (BTG) Summer Internship. BTG is a community-focused program that aims to link health-related work within the community to the teaching and growth of health professionals. Through my BTG Summer Internship, I worked with The Village of Arts in Philadelphia, where I helped create a curriculum for students to use media to promote public health initiatives. In addition, I have participated in various seminars and a fourth-year elective also involving BTG. Overall, BTG has lit and maintained a fire in me to become an advocate for my patients and community, and inspired me to strive to make change in the overall health of both.

What have you learned during your medical education that will help you best meet the needs of patients from underserved communities?

I have learned that many factors outside of medicine dictate the experience and outcomes that these patients will have. I have also learned that what we do in the clinic is a small part of what is needed to improve the health of patients in these communities. Knowing this, I can be sure to work with these patients to meet them where they are, and to remember that an understanding of their overall context is absolutely critical in helping them, while also doing what I can to address the systemic issues that negatively affect their health.

Aside from BTG, what organizations, extracurriculars, research or community service experiences have you been involved in at Drexel? How have they impacted your time here?

I have been a part of the Medical Humanities program, where I have taken courses and participated in seminars involving the humanities and humanism in medicine. I am also currently completing a capstone to complete the Medical Humanities Scholar track. This experience has taught me the importance of humanities courses in making me a well-rounded person, and the importance of intentionally maintaining the aspects and ideals that will make me a humanistic, compassionate and patient-focused physician. It has also helped maintain my love of art and philosophy and has allowed me to incorporate my own hobby of directing and producing videos into my life in medicine.

What specialty do you plan to go into? What influenced that choice?

I plan to go into family medicine. I wanted a broad knowledge, the ability to treat a wide range of conditions, longitudinal relationships with my patients, and the ability to advocate for those I treat. Family medicine will allow me to build strong relationships with people and see health from birth until old age, while also allowing me avenues to work in public health and preventative medicine.

What are some of your favorite medical school memories? What lessons have you learned here that you'll carry on into residency?

My favorite medical school memories include the times I hung out with amazing people who I have had the privilege to meet at Drexel, including the day I met my future roommate at one of the socials during the first week of M1. Another would be the many times I have had the privilege to work with amazing faculty members or attendings from whom I can learn and who I aspire to be like.

I have learned that it is very important to be knowledgeable, but it is even more critical to be kind and caring to your colleagues and patients. I have also learned that I should remain incredibly humble and remember that there is much to be learned from my classmates, faculty, patients, nurses, etc., and that ego will only prevent this learning and thus stunt my growth as a physician and as a person.

What advice would you give to current medical students regarding residency interviews/the match process?

Be prepared and be confident. Also, remember how far you have come and trust that you have done an incredible amount of work to get here. Regardless of where you end up, you have the tools to be a great physician and one day make an impact on so many lives. We sometimes may get caught up in the minutiae and stress of it all, but remembering how far you've come and what you are doing it all for puts everything into perspective.

How are you feeling ahead of Match Day?

What are you looking forward to about the next step in your medical career? I am excited and a little nervous, but I'm confident everything will be fine. I am looking forward to the new environment I will be in and all the amazing people I will meet and learn from.