IMGRoadmap Series #75 Dr. Ololade Akinfemiwa (Emergency Medicine)
Is emergency medicine your passion but you are scared that as an IMG your chances of matching are significantly lower?
In our ever-changing world, outstanding IMGs like Dr. Ololade Akinfemiwa keep breaking the barriers, challenging the status quo and living their dreams as physicians in the United States. Keep listening to find out more about this Emergency Medicine resident's inspiring journey!
Nigerian-Canadian Dr. Akinfemiwa was never one to let life's challenges define her and this ambitious attitude drove her throughout medical school at the St. George's University in Grenada, despite this not having been her original plan. She worked hard during medical school and was able to perform exceptionally well until her graduation in 2021.
With regard to her specialty, Dr. Akinfemiwa chose emergency medicine after a particular rotation which cemented her interest in the field.
When asked about her journey to the match and the various difficulties she faced, Dr. Akinfemiwa highlighted the following:
Throughout her education at St. George's university, she studied in the UK, Grenada and the US. The constant moving, while difficult, was made more bearable by having a strong support system to surround her.
The unique experience of going through residency application and interviews completely online offered certain advantages in the realms of networking and communication, which are both essential during this process.
Scores are not the end all, be all and they do not define you. Dr. Akinfemiwa ensured to build her application to be as holistic as possible through extra curricular activities and relevant clinical experience.
Detailed research, diligence and dedication are important especially when attempting to specialize in Emergency Medicine, due to the characteristic requirements of this field such as the standardized letter of evaluation (SLOE).
When preparing for virtual interviews, Dr. Akinfemiwa advises to practice with friends and family, record and critique yourself in order to identify areas needing improvement, and to ensure that you have a stable internet connection.
Finally, Dr. Akinfemiwa leaves us with these inspirational tidbits:
Always work as hard as possible. Once you've done the best that you can, there is no need to worry.
Mindset plays a huge rule in a person's success. Everything that you are able to achieve begins with your thoughts.
Persistence in the face of challenges builds resilience and success.
You can reach out to5 Dr. Akinfemiwa via her Instagram @lboogiiee and her Twitter @lolakinfem
Watch the full episode using the links below:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-img-roadmap/id1490731292
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/45NNJ7ewtqynqyssbwm1xz
Google Podcasts:https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9mOGMzY2EwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz
Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1490731292/the-img-roadmap-podcast
RadioPublic: https://radiopublic.com/the-img-roadmap-GE0MMg