Oklahoma State University: Black History Month Student Spotlight: Tomi Adewumi, OSU-COM

Press release from Oklahoma State University:

2022-02-15

In honor of Black History Month, we will spotlighting Black students attending Oklahoma
State University's Center for Health Sciences.

Tomi Adewumi, OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine

Where are you from? 

Nigeria originally. I moved to Tulsa about seven years ago. 

Nigeria originally. I moved to Tulsa about seven years ago. 

Why do you want to be a physician?

As a young boy growing up in Nigeria, I watched a lot of American physicians come
to my hometown on mission trips to help the needy and care for the sick. These physicians
possessed the highest level of knowledge, confidence and skill. Their visits brought
hope to the community, and they positively impacted so many lives on those trips.
Watching the impact they made inspired me as a young boy. I hoped that someday I would
become an American physician just like them and possess such knowledge and skills
that will allow me to care for the sick and positively impact lives the way they did. 

As a young boy growing up in Nigeria, I watched a lot of American physicians come
to my hometown on mission trips to help the needy and care for the sick. These physicians
possessed the highest level of knowledge, confidence and skill. Their visits brought
hope to the community, and they positively impacted so many lives on those trips.
Watching the impact they made inspired me as a young boy. I hoped that someday I would
become an American physician just like them and possess such knowledge and skills
that will allow me to care for the sick and positively impact lives the way they did. 

Did you see many health care providers and physicians that looked like you growing
up? Did that impact your decision to go into health care?

I have a unique experience because I grew up in Nigeria and practically all of the
local physicians practicing in Nigeria look like me. Unfortunately, that's not the
case for every minority student who has found their way into medicine in the United
States.

I have a unique experience because I grew up in Nigeria and practically all of the
local physicians practicing in Nigeria look like me. Unfortunately, that's not the
case for every minority student who has found their way into medicine in the United
States.

What has your experience been like so far at OSU-CHS?

I have been a part of the OSU-CHS family for over seven years now. The OSU-CHS community
took me in when I first arrived in this country and gave me a home. Everyone has been
super supportive throughout my journey here. It has been encouraging to see the amount
of change and progress the campus has made and continues to make to improve the experience
of minority students on campus. 

I have been a part of the OSU-CHS family for over seven years now. The OSU-CHS community
took me in when I first arrived in this country and gave me a home. Everyone has been
super supportive throughout my journey here. It has been encouraging to see the amount
of change and progress the campus has made and continues to make to improve the experience
of minority students on campus. 

Why do you think it’s important to have diversity in health care and medicine?

I honestly think of the impact of diversity like a party cocktail in a big dispenser
that we all contribute to. Each flavor or ingredient that goes into this cocktail
represents an individual's unique background and experiences. We all bring in different
flavors to this party and we all add to this big dispenser. You don't want everyone
to bring the same ingredient to this party right, you want variety. If we all bring
in different flavors and mix it all up. What happens is when a person takes a drink,
they are getting a little bit of every flavor, a little bit of every experience and
perspective. So, when they go out into the world and see a patient with perspectives
and experiences different from theirs, they can better relate with them and better
provide care specific to their needs because they had previously learned a bit about
that patient's “flavor” or experience. You learn from me, I learn from you; that's
how we achieve unity. 

I honestly think of the impact of diversity like a party cocktail in a big dispenser
that we all contribute to. Each flavor or ingredient that goes into this cocktail
represents an individual's unique background and experiences. We all bring in different
flavors to this party and we all add to this big dispenser. You don't want everyone
to bring the same ingredient to this party right, you want variety. If we all bring
in different flavors and mix it all up. What happens is when a person takes a drink,
they are getting a little bit of every flavor, a little bit of every experience and
perspective. So, when they go out into the world and see a patient with perspectives
and experiences different from theirs, they can better relate with them and better
provide care specific to their needs because they had previously learned a bit about
that patient's “flavor” or experience. You learn from me, I learn from you; that's
how we achieve unity. 

Anything else you would like to mention or add?

I’m glad that we at OSU-CHS have taken it upon ourselves to improve every day in every
aspect and continue to strive to be as inclusive as possible. I am so proud of where
we are right now and where we are going. I hope that we will all continue to be intentional
in our everyday interactions for the betterment of all humanity. 

I’m glad that we at OSU-CHS have taken it upon ourselves to improve every day in every
aspect and continue to strive to be as inclusive as possible. I am so proud of where
we are right now and where we are going. I hope that we will all continue to be intentional
in our everyday interactions for the betterment of all humanity. 

This press release was produced by Oklahoma State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.