Ep. 115: Dr. Ujunwa Okoye-Okafor on Making the Hard Choice to Stop Pursuing Her Childhood Dream
Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of MedicineDr. Ujunwa Okafor
In this episode of the Cohort Sistas Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ujunwa Okoye-Okafor to talk about her time at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, imposter syndrome, and the power of self-knowledge. Dr. Okoye-Okafor received her Ph.D. in Cell Biology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and, during that time, she was part of the team that patented a novel gene. She currently works in a lab that focuses on cell biology, hematopoiesis, and the potential oncological implications.
In this episode, Dr. Okoye-Okafor discusses the challenges that can come with the expectations that are implicit in many Nigerian families, where you are limited to three career options, and how she had to let go of the long-held expectations of not just by her family, but also herself. She credits her mentors, her family, and her faith with helping her through a very difficult time in her studies, and she shares how improving her physical fitness was essential for helping her feel empowered again and how she was able to employ that in conjunction with her faith to become a leader and mentor to other women struggling with their identity. Dr. Okoye-Okafor also opens up how she was able to heal from the trauma she suffered at school and return to work at the same institution with the support of a mentor as well as a more robust sense of identity.
Connect with Dr. Ujunwa Okoye-Okafor on LinkedIn.
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Key Points From This Episode:
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Dr. Okoye-Okafor explains the topic of her Ph.D. at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
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Details on the novel gene that they isolated during her Ph.D.
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She gives a brief explanation of her current project on the drug Azacitidine and its unwanted side effect causing low platelets in patients.
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How it felt to patent a gene during her Ph.D. and the significance of contributing new knowledge.
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Why she is grateful to her mentor for having included and credited her in the project.
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How Dr.Okoye-Okafor came to be part of an MD-PhD program.
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She shares her struggles with imposter syndrome and feelings of depression and isolation.
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Why Dr.Okoye-Okafor is passionate about helping other young women who are struggling.
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How she learned about herself and was able to let go of what other people expected of her and go on to do work that excites her.
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The expectations that are implicit in many Nigerian families and the related challenges.
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How Dr.Okoye-Okafor was able to heal from the trauma she experienced thanks to a job opportunity from her mentor.
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How her faith, family, mentors, and the birth of her daughter supported her through a very dark period.
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The responsibility for universities to provide safer spaces and support for students.
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How Dr.Okoye-Okafor became more comfortable with public speaking and now enjoys speaking at conferences.
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How competitive training and running Spartan races empowered her and helped her through her depression.
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Hosted by Cohort Sistas founder Dr. Ijeoma Kola, The Cohort Sistas Podcast brings to life the stories, struggles, and successes of Black women with doctoral degrees and their lives beyond the degree. If you are a Black woman interested in joining the Cohort Sistas community, sign up to do so here, and if you are looking for more information on how to support or partner with Cohort Sistas, please visit our partnerships page. Find us on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t forget to follow The Cohort Sistas Podcast, rate the show, and leave us a quick review.
