MEDICAL EDUCATION
“Through my work at the charitable clinics, I see patient populations that are similar to what I saw in Nigeria — people without health insurance who cannot afford healthcare.” Christiana Obioma
Third-Year Student Named Tillman Scholar Christiana Obioma, a member of the OU College of Medicine Class of 2023, was named a 2021 Tillman Scholar, an honor that reflects her dedication to military service and her plans to improve the lives of vulnerable populations through accessible healthcare. Obioma grew up in Aba, Nigeria, where she often saw people suffering because of the lack of healthcare. People with chronic conditions like diabetes were frequently unable to manage their health, and others died from illnesses that would be easily survivable in other places. Having access to a hospital and its resources, including something as vital as oxygen, was not guaranteed. Obioma decided that she wanted to find a way improve the health and well-being of people like those she knew growing up. Her journey to becoming a doctor, however, began with military service. In 2015, two years after she arrived in the United States, she enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. She had been drawn to the organization and its values, and she became a combat medic with the 469th ground ambulance unit. She helped to provide medical services to military personnel, assisted with ambulance transports and learned basic emergency and medical skills. “I grew so much from being in the military,” she said. “I learned time management, organizational skills and medical skills. It was an opportunity for me to grow professionally and personally.”
Her time as a combat medic also solidified her desire to become a physician. After applying to multiple medical schools, she was excited to accept admission from the OU College of Medicine so that she could stay in Oklahoma. Now a third-year medical student, she is glad to be in clinics and hospitals gaining clinical experience. She also works with her peers to provide interdisciplinary care to patients at charitable clinics in the Oklahoma City area. “Through my work at the charitable clinics, I see patient populations that are similar to what I saw in Nigeria — people without health insurance who cannot afford healthcare,” she said. “Being able to help those patient populations has meant so much to me. I think I will be interested in a primary care field because those are the patient populations I want to reach.” Obioma has worked with her fellow students to launch a campus chapter of the Student National Medical Association, which is dedicated to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally competent and socially conscious physicians. Obioma was one of 60 Tillman Scholars selected in 2021 from thousands of applicants nationwide. The Tillman Scholars program is part of the Pat Tillman Foundation, named for a former National Football League player who enlisted in the U.S. Army after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and ultimately lost his life while serving in Afghanistan. Tillman Scholars are service members, veterans and military spouses who are beginning their next chapter as public and private sector leaders in a variety of fields. In addition to receiving a scholarship, Obioma joins a global network of peers, mentors and industry leaders and has access to lifelong leadership development opportunities.
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