Dr. Stephanie

My parents immigrated to the United States from Nigeria more than 30 years ago in the pursuit of education, happiness, and the establishment of their family. Growing up in what I call a small Nigerian village in the middle of Tulsa, OK, I learned quickly that what I experienced in childhood was not the same as the experiences my parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins experienced. Waking up in the middle of the night to phone calls from my aunts and uncles requesting whatever knowledge we had about their medical issue lead me right to the medical field. These experiences coupled with my own health battles informed my educational process. 

I conducted my undergraduate studies at Xavier University where I obtained my Bachelor’s in Science in Natural Sciences and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Spanish. After working as a research assistant for MD Anderson and later as a patient care advocate for the North Cypress Medical Center, a mentor of mine suggested that I go back to school to become a nurse. I returned to my alma mater to complete an accelerated Master’s degree in Nursing with a focus on Clinical nurse leadership. In the process of getting my nursing degree, I heard about an Interfaith medical service trip to Guatemala that aimed to build the capacity of a small community to maintain its healthcare. The premise drew me in immediately as I have a strong desire to establish primary healthcare interventions in Nigeria. 

I was lucky to be invited to the student team in 2014 and was then asked to join the medical team in the following year. My life could not be the same after this experience nor has it been. As a nurse, I worked in a cardiovascular intensive care unit in which we cared for patients undergoing open heart surgery as well as many other thoracic procedures. However, my experiences in Guatemala as a student and the constant reminder of the needs of home called me back to school to complete my PhD in Nursing Research focused on sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa. The Guatemala Interfaith Medical Service Project has become part of my DNA in that I truly believe health system capacity building that focuses on strong partnership is our best way forward if we mean to make true sustainable change for healthcare throughout the world. I am honored to be a part of this team and to learn from the students and partners we encounter through this project.