Victoria Ayodele
2027
Lithonia, Georgia
Program II: Neuroscience and Nutrition w/ Child Policy Certificate
When my Nigerian parents came to America, they ran errands to establish their family in a new country. Meanwhile, my eldest sister, Ifeoluwa, became our babysitter. While our parents worked 12-hour shifts at minimum wage, she took us to the park and cooked lunch and dinner for her siblings within a $20 budget. Despite needing to attend school on time, she walked us to our bus stops every morning. Through her initiative and care, she took the responsibility upon herself to provide her five sisters with the best experiences growing up. She continuously teaches me that service cannot merely tie to an assigned role or responsibility but the traits and responsibility I embody regularly to help others.
Witnessing the closure of water sources at my school due to lead poisoning in my district and taking care of an older sibling at home with epilepsy, I identified malnutrition as a significant hazard to the growth of my family, school, and community of Metropolitan Atlanta. Roused by the lack of research dialogues themed on nutritional health disparities in correlation to neurological development, I seek to utilize medicine and public health to examine how nutrition tangentially intersects with neurological development for children throughout various stages of life. I will investigate the importance of nutrition in cognitive development and neuroscience with an understanding of how socioeconomic inequalities and nutritional deficiency within society influence neurological impairment.
Studying how marasmus in the Guru community of northern Nigeria in pregnant women affects children led me to see only nine out of fifty pre-assessment participants understood the impacts of brain malnutrition on family and child wellbeing. My sister's acts of love galvanize me to advocate for the betterment of patients, whether internationally or domestically, employing research, genuine care, and clinical foundations. From discussing dietary concerns and updates with patients at a local clinic to writing publications on the inadequate access of patients of hubs in Nigeria and Ghana, I hope to investigate neurocognitive dilemmas and help all economically disadvantaged individuals thrive and bridge the socioeconomic health inequality gap.
“Being in Cardea surprises me. By being a Cardea fellow, I am more prepared to lead in the fields of medicine and care. However, I am -- nevertheless -- inspired by my peers and future trailblazers of under resourced backgrounds to become a better individual and professional. Throughout my time at Duke University, my Cardea fellows have bonded through bouts of laughter and encouragement through our studies as we change the face of healthcare.”