Research and Service for Communities

Otana Jakpor, M.D., M.Sc., a third-year resident at Kellogg, has had the opportunity to combine her interests in pediatric ophthalmology and global and environmental health.

Dr. Jakpor worked on a project in Grenoble, France to explore the possible connection between air pollution and the incidence of refractive error in children. “When Covid-19 made it impossible to pursue a planned project in China, I was given the green light to pursue this opportunity with former medical school colleagues who shared my interest in environmental health.” Jakpor is raising attention to a growing understanding of the role of air pollution and a range of eye conditions, including glaucoma and retinal vascular diseases. Particulate matter of 2.5 microns in size or smaller (“P2.5”) has been associated with a number of health conditions such as hypertension and stroke as well as glaucoma. “I’m so grateful for the support I received from Kellogg leadership and my faculty mentor, Dr. Joshua Ehrlich,” says Dr. Jakpor, who plans a clinical and research practice in pediatric ophthalmology that addresses global and environmental health issues.

Here in Ann Arbor, Dr. Jakpor is participating in a project launched through the U-M Medical School’s Health Equity and Quality Scholars Program. Her team is expanding the languages available for printed discharge instructions for patients following cataract surgery.

“Beyond standard post-operative instructions, there is often a need to provide patient-specific guidance about details like eye drops or follow-up appointments,” she explains. “In these instances, the care team uses a customizable template to generate post-op instructions. Working with Michigan Medicine’s outstanding Interpreter Services staff, our group is making this customizable template available in more languages.”