“I chose Midwestern University because the values of the school align with the type of physician I want to be in the future.”
Tobi has an undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, B.Sc. in Biological Science with minor in Chemistry. Her hometown is Chicago, IL.
What inspired you to pursue a healthcare career?
My oldest cousin is my inspiration. She is an oncologist and an emergency medicine doctor in the UK. Every time I talked to her; I knew that I wanted to do something like what she did; provide healthcare to people. She is always very happy talking about patient care, medical conditions, and medical technology. She loves what she does and since she is my favorite cousin, I wanted to walk on the same path as she did. For her, it was either medicine or nothing and I loved it.
How did your background and history factor into your career choice?
I grew up in a home of educated professionals. Some of my family members are engineers and medical professionals. My uncles, my aunts, and a couple of my older cousins are medical doctors in different parts of the world. Whenever they traveled back home, to Nigeria for a family event, I was intrigued by their discussion on healthcare and patients. They all had different perspectives and experiences depending on the country they lived in. However, the care for patients was the common ground for them. I took interest in this and told myself I wanted to be in the medical field but was unsure of what aspect of healthcare I wanted to be in until I came to the United States.
Why did you decide to attend Midwestern University?
I chose Midwestern University because the values of the school align with the type of physician I want to be in the future. Midwestern University provides compassion, diversity, and a warm and welcoming environment. The first time I came to Midwestern, I felt welcomed and seen. Talking to the current students and faculty as they gave a tour of the school felt very warm, interactive, and memorable. Also, I did not want to leave Chicago as my support system is here and I did not want to be away from my family.
What about a Midwestern University education do you want to carry forward in your career?
There are a lot of things I have learned here within my short period of education and some of the most important ones I’d like to carry with me into my career will be teamwork, compassion, and advocating for all people regardless of race or ethnicity and service to the community.
