Experiences shape OSU-COM med student, national scholarship recipient

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

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

Emily Sowah is a fourth-year student at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is also a non-traditional medical student with the chronic illness sickle cell anemia whose family immigrated from Ghana.

“To me, being a representative of minority women in medicine means fulfilling one of my life’s purposes,” said Sowah. “It allows me to show others that they too can achieve their goals, no matter how distant they may seem. And for my future patients, this representation means I can relate to them on a level that not all providers may reach.”

Sowah was recently awarded the William G. Anderson, DO, Minority Scholarship from the American Osteopathic Foundation. 

“Receiving this scholarship gives me a sense of validity that all the extra work I do beyond the required medical school curriculum is worth the sleepless nights and time away from studying," she said. "Most importantly it reinforces my belief that my experiences and aspirations align with AOF’s mission of serving the health needs of diverse and underrepresented populations.”

The $10,000 scholarship will help with the cost of residency applications and housing while on audition rotations, as well as medical conferences and global health trips, which have become a passion for Sowah during her time in medical school.

“There was nothing I loved more than completing finals and frantically packing for a global health mission trip where I could really dive into a new culture and learn more about how health care works in rural communities internationally,” she said.

Her favorite experiences were collaborating with health care personnel including medical students in Veracruz, Mexico; interpreters in Pirua, Peru; and founders of non-profit organizations in Athens, Greece.

Sowah said these experiences led her to pursue broader health opportunities like serving as AACOM’s National Global Health Representative at the Osteopathic International Alliance Conference in London. 

“The global health program at OSU-COM has opened doors for me throughout my medical school journey that I will forever be grateful for,” she said.

Sowah said more minority representation in medicine will lead to more diverse health care teams, which then leads to more creative solutions and improved treatment for minority populations.

“Seeing is believing. When more people of color are represented in medicine, it inspires future generations to pursue similar careers,” she said. “For my future patients, this representation means I can relate to them on a level that not all providers may reach. It drives me to continually strive to be the best I can be, ensuring I provide the culturally sensitive care they deserve.”

Sowah said she is not just thankful for the financial support she receives from the scholarship, but for all the types of support she’s received from her community.

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has shaped me into the person I am today,” she said. “From my parents and siblings to my letter writers, mentors, friends, peers, preceptors and patients — each encounter has given me something valuable to help me become a better person in this world.”