A Hunger for More—Powerlifting My Way to the Top

A Hunger for More—Powerlifting My Way to the Top

After two and a half years of training and four state competitions, I woke up at 4 am on a brisk October morning to catch my flight to Atlanta for my first USA Powerlifting Raw Nationals. With my squat shoes, knee sleeves, wrist wraps, belt, chalk, and singlet in my gym bag and my laptop and 70 pages of review material for my Structures final exam in my backpack, I set off to LaGuardia Airport. Time until my self-set deadline to take the exam: 16 hours. Time until I would compete: 28 hours.  (more…)

From Rio to Med School: A Reflection on Transitioning

From Rio to Med School: A Reflection on Transitioning

My stomach is twisting and my heart is beating rapidly. Feelings of dread and self-doubt overwhelm me.

“We have alignment, attention, GO!” the announcer makes the official starting call. My mind goes blank, and I’m racing toward the finish line 2000 meters away. Under the watchful eye of Cristo Redentor and thousands of spectators and donning my Nigerian uniform, I rowed in the D-final of the Women’s Single Scull event at the Olympic Games.

(more…)

Black Man in a White Coat—My Responsibility

Black Man in a White Coat—My Responsibility

In a way, choosing medicine felt easy. My father is a family physician who exposed me to the field very early. I remember how exciting it was to hear him tell stories about work and explain the strange journals on our kitchen table. His unfailing commitment to his patients and his genuine sense of fulfillment always inspired me.

(more…)

White Coats for Human Rights

White Coats for Human Rights

At times in medical school, it’s easy to get lost in the science and memorization and forget the bigger picture of why you want to be a doctor.  The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s InFocus weeks come between the major system blocks and are designed to be a break from the studying and an opportunity to think about important aspects of medicine that are not in a traditional medical school curriculum.

(more…)