It’s a particularly inspiring story! A mother and daughter duo have just graduated together in medicine. The two Americans couldn't be happier and more proud!
Originally from Ghana and living in the United States, Cynthia Kudji did not think she could work in the medical field because ofa lack of representation of African American women doctors. "I remember when we were young there were TV shows like The Cosby Show and A Different World. Seeing African Americans in college or succeeding was unprecedented. So, to me, it was not like ‘Oh, yes, I want to be a doctor’. It was rather ‘Oh, no, can I really do that? Or: ‘Am I smart enough to do it?’", she admitted in an interview with The UMHS Endeavor.
It was during a family trip to Ghana to visit relatives that she decided to become a doctor in understanding the importance of access to healthcare for the population. At the time, she did not realize that the United States had a lack of access to health care, similar to her native country.
The young woman, now aged 49, then dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, she put her project on hold when she got pregnant at the age of 23. To support herself and her daughter, she became a nurse. When her daughter Jasmine entered college, Cynthia Kudji also enrolled in many faculties. She was admitted to a private for-profit medical school located in Basseterre, Saint Kitts In the Caribbean. Her daughter studied at the LSU School of Medicine in Louisiana.
If it was difficult for the two women to be separated for several years, they supported each other and recently graduated. This is the first time that a mother and daughter have attended medical school, graduated at the same time, and are about to work at the same institution. "My mom is the most inspiring person in my life, and she is one of the only reasons I was able to get to where I am today ", said Jasmine Kudji.
They will both be resident physicians at Louisiana State University (LSU), effective July 1, 2020. This internship is mandatory to obtain their right to practice medicine in the United States. They will have to exercise in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic but Cynthia Kudji ensures that "now is a great time for doctors to show their leadership. "" This is why Jasmine and I became doctors. We want to be part of the front line team that has an impact on the community in which we live. ", she added.
The two women hope their story will inspire "young and old alike to pursue their dreams".
Taking a mother / daughter trip once a year can improve your health!
by Sarah Chekroun