Hometown: Fayetteville, GA
Name of Undergraduate Institution: Duke University
Major(s)/Minor(s) in College: Neuroscience
Name of Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Favorite Quote: “You gon learn today. Alright Alright Alriiiiiiiight.” –Kevin Hart
Contact Information: Email – eosehobo@augusta.edu
Where are you currently at in your career path and why did you decide to pursue this career path?
I’m in my 2nd year of medical school. I’ve been interested in medicine from a young age, but I confirmed my desire to pursue the path in 9th grade while taking a Healthcare Science class. It’s a competitive field, and that partially drives me. The other big part is the fact that I can imagine myself having a positive effect on each patient in whichever specialty I finally decide on…I have a pretty big personality and I like to help people smile if I can.
If you could go back and have a chat with your naïve college freshman self, what would you tell him?
Succeeding in college requires hours of studying per day. You can’t just breeze through off listening to lectures like you did in high school. Also, it’s ok to say no to people sometimes.
What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue a similar path as yours?
Make the decision, then make a plan. If that plan works out, great. If not, stay confident in your decision and make the necessary adjustments. You’ll worry at times, but the biggest mistake you can make is doing nothing while worrying. Put your future in your own control to the best of your ability.
Do you have another professional degree? If so, how has it impacted you?
I have a Master of Science in Pre-Clinical Sciences from Mercer. I hadn’t quite mastered time management yet coming out of college, so this detour to an MD was a good chance for me to learn and appreciate those skills. I was also ahead of the curve as an MD student, having taken graduate-level courses on subjects that many of classmates saw for the first time in med school.
What advice would you give to someone getting ready to start their application process to medical schools?
GET IT DONE EARLY. If the application site opens in the first week of June, have everything you need ready by the last week of May. For med school that means your personal statement, resumé, academic transcript, and letters of recommendation. LORs can be a doozy; make sure to give your letter writer at least a month’s notice if possible and don’t keep them waiting if they ask for you to provide them with some background knowledge.
Did you take some time off before medical school? If so, what did you do during that time?
Between my Masters and med school I worked for a year as an account manager for a medical technology company called Bioscape Digital. We supplied hospitals across the country with tablets meant to both entertain and educate patients while they waited for their care. I was able to save a nice chunk of change and I got to travel a lot as well.
What do you like to do for fun?
I play trumpet and piano, and I sing. I’m in the gym about 4-5 times a week with my folks at Ozone PT (trademark pending). I like playing 2K and Overwatch on Xbox One, and I have several primetime TV shows I keep track of when time allows. I also read manga and watch anime from time to time.
How have you been able to deal with your romantic relationship and medical school at the same time?
You’ll often hear that if you love someone enough, you’ll make it through just fine. Practically, a relationship during medical school isn’t easy, especially if it’s long-distance and even more especially if your significant other is not familiar with the rigors of professional school. It requires each person to understand what the other needs and what the other can realistically give. There’ll be times when life is great, but also times when frustration with school seeps into the relationship, or vice versa. That being said, if you listen to each other and value each other’s concerns, you’ll make it through. A strong relationship tends to bounce back no matter what tries to bring it down.
What do you do to get through the stressful nature of medical school?
Every morning I make a mental list of what I need to do that day. I make sure to get through that list every day before midnight, and I guarantee myself 7 hours of sleep a night as a result. That last part is the major key: SLEEP. There is no benefit to averaging 4-5 hours of sleep a night, even if you didn’t finish your list for the day. You’ll just be tired and more stressed the next morning.
What extra-curricular activities are you involved in at your school?
I participate in various levels of community service mostly through the Student National Medical Association, but also through Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. I serve on the Region IV Executive Board for SNMA as the MAPS Liaison for Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. I play trumpet with the undergraduate wind ensemble, and I’m in our medical school’s newly formed a capella group.
Thank you for sharing some of your knowledge with us Ehizele! We really appreciate it!
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Posted on November 1st, 2016