ElevateMeD Scholar: Ayomide Odeneye

Meet Ayomide Odeneye

ElevateMeD Scholar 2024-25

Ayomide Odeneye shares how pursuing challenging activities brought him to a career in medicine and how ElevateMeD stands as a formidable force against the barriers to pursue medicine.

• Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria and moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 2005 at the age of nine.

• Medical Education: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson

• Undergraduate Education: Arizona State University in Biochemistry

• Current Career Plan: I aim to practice psychiatry across various clinical settings, aiming to destigmatize mental health within minority communities while bridging the gap between physical and mental well-being, empowering my patients to live fulfilling lives.

• Specialty Interest: Psychiatry

• I am most proud of my parents. Leaving behind their culture, family, and careers to start anew in a foreign land is a daunting prospect for many. Yet, this is precisely what they did to provide my brothers and me with the best opportunities for success. At the age of 40, my father, a trained gynecologic surgeon, took a transformative leap with his wife and three sons to the United States. He not only embraced a new culture but also pursued his medical career within it. Meanwhile, my mother, who ran a thriving clothing business in Nigeria, made the courageous decision to leave it all behind for a fresh start in the United States. Their unwavering resilience in the face of adversity serves as a constant source of inspiration for me. I am a testament to my parents’ dreams and aspirations, and I am determined to continue making them proud as their eldest son.

• You might be surprised to know that I have survived multiple near-death experiences, don’t know how to swim, and completed my first full year of college with a 0.5 cumulative GPA, resulting in university disqualification. Despite these setbacks, I enjoyed many years as a musician in collegiate band programs, traveling across the country doing what I loved. Additionally, I worked as a restaurant manager for three years, honing my leadership and communication skills.My time as a behavioral health technician provided valuable insight into treating mental health, shaping my path toward my eventual career as a psychiatrist. What may not surprise you, however, is that through life’s challenges, I have remained optimistic about the journey ahead. Continuously seeking a silver lining, I contribute to an atmosphere of positivity and growth, ultimately improving the lives of those I interact with.

• ElevateMeD is… There are barriers that challenge minorities in their pursuit of a career in medicine, specifically limited diversity and the skyrocketing costs of attendance. In my opinion, ElevateMeD stands as a formidable force against these barriers, actively carving a pathway forward for many aspiring physicians from underrepresented populations in the United States. Since its inception, ElevateMeD has upheld its vision of being a vehicle for substantive, lasting change. It accomplishes this by allowing its scholars to commit to a future where diversity thrives, providing support and inspiration for students like me to achieve their dreams. Ultimately, I envision myself as a physician-leader not only in my desired field, but also within the hospital system and communities I aim to serve. In collaboration with its extensive body of physician-advisors and Board of Directors, ElevateMeD will provide me with the education and training necessary to achieve this goal.