IMGRoadmap Series #93 Dr. Paul M. Osunwa, Jr. (Anesthesiology)
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Do you already have a career but you are considering switching to medicine? Dr. Paul Osunwa, who transitioned from nursing into an anesthesiology residency is here to prove to you that anything is possible! Keep listening to find out more about his interesting journey!
Born to Nigerian Parents, Dr. Osunwa grew up in California where he served as a nurse for three years before deciding to start medical school.
Here are some of the highlights of his journey, pre-residency. He:
Attended a specialized program for career transitioning at St. George’s University in Grenada.
Always knew he wanted to be an anesthesiologist and so, shadowed such doctors even as a nurse.
Served as the president of the student government.
Earned the White Coat Award in his last semester in Grenada.
Applied to 136 programs in Anesthesia.
Participated in the first cohort of zoom interviews due to COVID.
Scored seven interviews.
Matched at his second preference of program.
When asked how being president of the student government helped him, he stated that he was able to do the following:
Develop priceless collaboration and leadership skills.
Execute effective communication with authorities and peers.
Excel in advocacy for the student body.
Here are some of the challenges of applying into anesthesiology:
Facing the reality of limited anesthesiology spots.
Scoring above average Step 1 and Step 2 scores.
Proving that the student is a holistic human being with other skills and traits outside of medicine.
Securing LOR’s.
Demonstrating strong interest in the field.
Does Dr. Osunwa regret switching careers from nursing?
He saw medical school as an investment in himself.
There was a great deal of knowledge acquisition, where all his questions from nursing were answered
He is now able to provide better care for patients.
The switch of careers is always worth it, especially when you look at people like Dr. Nina Snowden who took the leap from an established practice in nutrition to starting from scratch on a successful medical career.
Dr. Osunwa therefore advises you as an IMG to:
Never give up or listen to naysayers.
Be realistic, but also believe in yourself and surprise yourself with what you can achieve.
Understand the importance of introspection and use your failures to propel you.
You can reach out to Dr. Osunwa via his Instagram @prince_chiso and his email posunwa@sgu.edu.
You can also listen to the full episode on Apple, Spotify & Google Podcasts.