IMGRoadmap Series #76 Dr. Foluwakemi Olufehinti (Family Medicine)
What will you do when you become a resident physician? Mentor others? Give back to your home town? Sponsor your family? Whatever it is, this is your time to make this dream come true!
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Have your challenges and bad experiences ever made you feel like giving up? Dr. Foluwakemi Olufehinti's story will give you all of the inspiration you need to persist in the face of adversity until you achieve your goals!
Nigerian-born Non-US IMG Dr. Olufehinti completed her medical education at Ross University, which was then situated on the Caribbean island of Dominica. As a student, she had to adjust to a different learning and testing style, but eventually, she gained success despite the various difficulties she faced.
When it comes to the match, Dr. Olufehinti's story is far from traditional. She essentially applied on three occasions, twice in the traditional match process and once through the the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP).
On her first try for the 2019 match period, though she received 7 interviews, she did not match. She decided to try again through SOAP, which was also unsuccessful. Dr. Olufehinti did not let these setbacks define her and she used this as an opportunity to consult with resources such as the IMG Roadmap Course and to seek feedback from her interviewers in order to highlight areas needing improvement. With this in mind, she applied for the 2021 match period and received 20 interviews this time around!
In December of 2020, however, she received an offer from one of the programs she had applied to prior to the 2021 cycle and decided to accept it.
As a result of her very unique journey to the match, Dr. Olufehinti is a wealth of insight and advice. Here are a few of the topics she touches in during this interview:
The match: After not having matched the first two times, Dr. Olufehinti attributes her success thereafter to an increase in confidence and to the understanding that while she was being interviewed, she was also interviewing the program coordinators. The moment she saw herself as a potential asset to the program, the coordinators began to share the same view.
Preparing for the USMLE: Dr. Olufehinti advises IMGs to study in groups if this style works for you, and to use plenty of practice questions from reputable sources. While your grades do not define you, program coordinators just want to see that you are diligent and capable of improvement.
Persistence is key: Though there were times where it seemed like all the odds were stacked against her, Dr. Olufehinti was able to stop, take stock, and improve until she was able to achieve her goals.
You can reach out to Dr. Olufehinti via her Instagram @fomoshgreen
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