Sowah ‘can’t believe’ she was selected as ElevateMeD Scholar

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Media Contact: Sara Plummer | Communications Coordinator | 918-561-1282 | sara.plummer@okstate.edu

Emily Sowah has spent a lot of time in hospitals and doctor’s offices — and that was before she was a student at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“My mom has sickle cell anemia, and so do I,” said Sowah, who will soon begin rotations as a third-year medical student. “I spent a decent amount of time in hospitals. They used to be scary, but the more I went and came out better, the more I got used to it and thought it was a magical place where sick people went and came out healthy.”

Sowah, who is from Edmond, studied biology and psychology at the University of Oklahoma, but it wasn’t until she attended a Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, or MAPS, Conference at OSU Center for Health Sciences that she was introduced to OSU’s medical school.

“I fell in love with the place. The Tandy building was brand new, and the students seemed happy to be there, and that’s what I wanted in a medical school,” she said. “If I was going to spend four years going through tough curriculum, this was the place I wanted to do it. They made me feel like I was already a part of the family and I hadn’t even applied yet.”

At OSU-CHS, Sowah has been active across campus serving as a student ambassador, Student Government Association president, and she’s participated in three global health trips, something she is passionate about.

That dedication to leadership and helping her community are just a few of the reasons Sowah was one of only 15 medical students from across the country selected for the 2023 ElevateMeD Scholarship Program, which aims to develop talented medical students from underrepresented backgrounds into the next generation of physician leaders.

Sowah was encouraged to apply, and was nominated by Assistant Dean of Diversity Brenda Davidson.

“Emily deserves this award because of her love of medicine. She is hardworking, kind and committed to serving others,” Davidson said. “She possesses empathy and values people, and is also humble, trustworthy and compassionate.”

ElevateMeD is providing Sowah with a $16,500 scholarship each year for the remainder of her time in medical school, as well as other resources such as leadership training, mentoring and debt management education.

“I still can’t believe it. I’m very thankful. I have loans from my undergraduate education and medical school isn’t cheap,” she said. “This scholarship will help me pursue my interest in global health and it puts my mind at ease.”

Even without such a heavy financial burden, Sowah still has plenty to do and think about as she prepares to take her board exams before starting rotations in July.

“You’re continually studying. It doesn’t feel like there’s enough time in the day. You try and balance being a student, being a leader, being a friend, being a sister and daughter,” she said. “Finishing the first two years of medical school, I look back and can’t believe I did that — you see that you can do things that you never thought possible.”