Less than three percent of urologists in America are Black. Osteopathic medical student Frederick Okoye (DO '24) will soon become one of them.
“It hasn't fully sunken in yet, but I feel a sense of pride,” said Okoye. “Prostate cancer is more prevalent in our communities, so entering this competitive subspecialty means I really need to show out. It's exciting, but being part of that very small demographic can be daunting.”
Luckily for Okoye, he grew up preparing for this moment. He remembers wearing his dad's stethoscope and witnessing what it was like to truly enjoy your career.
“My dad is an infectious disease physician. He's probably the only person that I've consistently seen through my life who loved the work,” Okoye shared. “He used to say, ‘I don't know why you guys think I work so much. When I wake up, I'm excited to go because I'm doing something that I dreamed about.’”
Okoye’s dream was to match into urology, which happened at the Urology Residency Match on February 1st. He's now a part of SUNY Downstate's Urology Class of 2029. It's the result of his hard work and unique academic journey at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM).
“My experience is not the same as a lot of other people,” he said. “I found out I wanted to pursue urology in my third year, so I talked to my mentors and decided to take a year off to do more research and networking.”
Okoye spent four months completing electives in urology at various hospitals throughout the country. He credits the Clinical Education department with accommodating this special request.
“They were so supportive, and I genuinely have a lot of love and admiration for them,” he said. “They allowed me to navigate uncharted waters and fulfill my dream.”
Next up for Okoye is graduation. Something he knows his family is looking forward
to.
“Both of my parents are Nigerian immigrants,” he said. “I was born in New Jersey but went to Nigeria for boarding school before coming back for high school. I'm super grateful for my parents, and I tell them that all the time. They taught me about humility, hard work, and making the most of what you're given.”
As his journey at PCOM comes to an end, he reflects on how it all started.
“I was not the prototypical medical student candidate,” Okoye shared. “The second I got into PCOM, all I felt was gratitude. They allowed me to do a research year, go across the country, and still wear the PCOM name. I love this school.”
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
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