Victoria Ayodele

Program II: Neuroscience and Nutrition w/ Child Policy Certificate

My interest in the medical field was shaped early on by my older sister’s epilepsy and my family’s struggles navigating health systems as first-generation immigrants from Nigeria. Those experiences made me acutely aware of how nutrition, environment, and access to care can alter neurological development and life opportunities. This curiosity led me to design a self-created Program II major at Duke in Neurological Development and Nutrition, which allows me to investigate how maternal and child health intersect with neuroscience and public policy.
   
Since coming to Duke, I have immersed myself in both research and service that bridge these interests. As a research assistant, I study placental omics in pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, work that has resulted in several peer-reviewed publications and national conference presentations. I also co-authored an article on expanding rural healthcare access in sub-Saharan Africa, which was published in Perspectives in Public Health. These experiences have given me insight into how scientific discovery can inform interventions that reduce global health inequities. I continuously build on these experiences through the Duke Bass Connections Projects called Building Sustainable Neurosurgical Systems in Developing Countries and Tracing the Roots of Nutrition Access: University to the Triangle. 
   
Equally important to me is expanding access to education and mentorship. I founded NeuroPioneers Pathway, an international neuroscience education initiative for underrepresented middle and high school students, where participants engage in interactive labs, physician mentorship, and career guidance. Additionally, I have collaborated with Leadership Initiatives, a CDC-partnered nonprofit, to assist in the development of maternal health interventions in northern Nigeria since high school. Together, these positions reflect my conviction that building healthier futures requires both advancing scientific knowledge and empowering communities to take action.
   
Outside the classroom and lab, I pursue dance and gymnastics, both of which challenge me to stay disciplined and creative. Looking forward, I want to combine clinical care with global health leadership, whether that be primarily as a Technical Officer of maternal and child health or in another facet of public health service. Regardless, my goal has remained the same: to help ensure that early health interventions are not a privilege, but a guarantee for every child.