90 days to go

Those who know me well will tell you that I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. My parents concurrently imbued in us a firm value of faith and hard work - for faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). Growing up without a television set at home wasn’t fun, however the set of children’s encyclopaedia that my parents got us served as a big window to my imagination - through reading I found a world of limitless dreams, aspirations and opportunities . At a tender age I knew exactly who I wanted to become and how to get to him. I also understood that my faith will lead me, yet it’ll require hard work and huge sacrifices to follow. Fast forward to today, I find myself exactly where I am supposed to be.

The greatest sacrifices were made my by parents, who deprived themselves of time with their teenage boy and were willing to let him leave them for a journey ten thousand miles away so he could fulfill his dream. All credit belongs to God and them.

Dream big and chase it.

Final year of residency is upon us...

I moved to the United States with three personal belongings - My faith, the belief that my family had in me and a hope to be someone meaningful. Today, thanks to all the good thoughts, prayers and support from each and everyone of you I am headed in the right direction. There's still a lot of work to be done as I turn the corner into my last year of training; lots of learning and fine-tuning to be done...

I will keep you posted

I always appreciate being in the operating room. It is definitely a place where I feel at peace, doing what I love.

Yep! Sometimes one just needs a break, in a place of serenity,  to figure things out.

Shout out to one of my favorites in the whole universe. Introducing  my sister Elaine, definitely a prominent segment of my spine. She is multifacetedly-gifted - She operates a compounding pharmacy with her husband and is also the founder of Akuska designs. 

In T-shirts to Tux , I  have traveled to many a place this year.

Can’t wait to start?

For sometime I kept waiting on events to start my life - my happiness. I told myself that “once I am done with medical school” or “once I am in a relationship “ or “once I am finished with training” then everything will be fine. Then it hit me, oh sh#t! This is it - life. I realized that though I am not perfect, yet I had so many blessings and so much to be proud of. I’ve learnt to appreciate life and continue to strive to be more grateful for where I am now. Looking back at weeks, months and even years and accompanying challenges, I am amazed by where I am today. 

In the midst of our struggles, we often tend to undermine the importance of our meager maneuvers and how much it helps as learn and grow. I can honestly say that I have grown from the past, grateful for where I am, and excited about where I am headed. I still have big goals and ambitions...and I still fantasize, but that does not diminish each moment leading up to them. Don’t wait on life because it’s not waiting on you. This is it!

Love is easy , hate won't win...

Another day on duty.  A privilege to serve.

 It's been over two years since  I moved into my new home (hospital) as a 'resident' and surprisingly I am still finding treasures that make me love it here.

This month, I am stationed at the Anesthesia Clinic, where  our team render medical interventions to optimize patients for surgery. Needless to say, I encounter a broad spectrum of people - neonatal to geriatric patients. I must confess, however, that my favorite group of patients are the pediatric patients. Not because they often have a meager list of morbidities but they tend to be mostly welcoming, cheerful, loving, full of hope and innocent optimism.

In the wake of recent racially charged and hate-filled events ( #Charlottesville), we can all certainly use a cue from children - to be cheerful and loving because these expressions are natural, inherent qualities that we are born with. Hatred and strife are manufactured. 


“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” - Nelson Mandela

Perhaps you may be wondering what I have been up to. By the grace of God, I graduated  from medical school in  2015 and started my residency training in Anesthesiology and Perioperative medicine. It has been an interestingly challenging yet exciting journey. Many successes have been chalked, some failures, despair, disappointments and a lot of learning and growth. Overall, optimism is winning; today and the future will be the beneficiaries.

One exciting day in March 2015. Matched into Anesthesiology

                                  

WFSOM class of 2015

They made this experience richer

Seyram was just as excited as I was.

My sister Yvette and I on match day

A surgeon and two Aneshesiologists

Sorry fans :). I have been busy living my dream in medical school. I have some interesting stories and photos on the conveyor belt, so sit tight. See you soon.

...I guess I somehow earned a feature on the front page of the premier issue of the Catalyst magazine.

I am blessed to be part of a family that is not only God-oriented but also medically-oriented. In terms of my career path a lot of credit goes to this man, Derek Kofi Boahene Owusu. In my culture, by the default , the first born is tasked to set a great precedent. I think Kofi Boahene took this way too literally. He's done a great job thus far... :)  Read his story in full at https://www.amazon.com/Kofi-Boahene/e/B01F1BNQO4