Who are you?
My name is Jeffrey Amoako, from Columbus, OH
When you were 5 years old, what did you want to be when you grow up?
When I was 5 years old actually went to be "Scientist". I didn't know what that meant really I just wanted to be that.
Did that change from then and now?
Now that I think about it being in medicine I kind of am a Scientist. Of course, I'm not like of course doing experiments and stuff like that but studying science. Being a scientist doesn't just mean you're in the lab all day. You can conduct clinical trials and things of that nature but to help people and that's what I'm doing right now.
So you dropped that bomb saying that you are in medicine, how did you get started in that?
Funny story actually. It was a mix my experiences so I went to South Africa for study tour and went to Botswana, Tanzania and did some work with HIV setting up free clinics. It was an accumulation of all of those different experiences really drew me towards medicine.
How did you end up in those places?
I went to the University of Cincinnati and I took a class called Public Health in South Africa and component included taking a trip to South Africa and Botswana and that's how that's how I ended up there! I'm interested in Global Health.
So how did you figure out the path to be where you're at today?
I think for me it's different because growing up I didn't know that many doctors, let alone black doctors. Only black doctor I knew was Dr. Huxtable, otherwise it was only one other black doctor which I met in undergrad. Otherwise I had to navigate things on my own! Being the firstborn of my family just trying to figure things out of my own!
It was through a lot of mentoring I would say. Just getting to know people, talk to people, and throughout my journey is how I figured how to just be the best version of myself.
Did you see yourself being here 5 years ago?
I'm not really sure I always wanted to be (a doctor) but I wasn't always sure that I could do it, no lie. Five years ago I was being broken down in Organic Chemistry class somewhere. I just remembered there's a week where I was like "this is ridiculous, it's hard...I can't do this...I'm about to switch out" and I started looking up other degrees and careers because I felt as if I wasn't cut out for this. This is something that I don't tell people but I really had to look deep down and I had to like really come to grips to myself and push through.
What about your background affected what you wanted to do?
My biggest support was from my mom, easily! She supports whatever decision I make make and that makes things easy because I don't have so much pressure on myself.
What does your mom do?
She's a nurse actually. She's been a nurse for quite a while. She's a single mother and what she has accomplished with myself and my two brothers, theres no reason why I cant accomplish my goals.
Did you have any family, brothers/cousins/friends show you the way in higher education?
No, I'm actually first generation college student. My parents were immigrants so they went to school back in Ghana and I'm the first person in my family to pursue higher education in the US.
Last question, If you could go back and talk to you 13 year old Jeffrey, what advice would you give him on navigating higher academics?
There's always hurdles, 5 years ago I was worried about passing a biochem test; last year I was worried about passing Step 1 (board exam), next year I'm going to worry about matching (getting your first job as a doctor). There's always hurdles that you will need to overcome, but when you pause and take a look what you've already accomplished it makes pushing forward much easier.
It's easy to forget what you've accomplished, but just be thankful for where you are and just keep moving forward. No one said it was going to be easy, but in the end it's always worth it.
One more question..In high school was it cool to be smart?
(Laughs) I'm different I played sports but was also smart. I had a lot of friends, but also got straight As and perfect attendance. I don't think you have to pick cool or smart, like you can be both.
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