Michael Nana Kofi Osei Kwakye – the new doctor on the block

Dr. Michael Nana Kofi Osei Kwakye was born and raised in Staten Island, New York in 1987. Both of his parents were born in Kwahu, Ghana and
moved to the United States in the late 1970s. He is the oldest of five
children, and has always tried his best to lead by example for his younger siblings. Growing up, his parents strongly believed in the importance
of having a strong faith and being God-fearing and they were able to instill this in him and his siblings at an early age. He attended St. Roch’s Catholic School on Staten Island, New York from kindergarten to eighth grade, and this is where he developed great enthusiasm and interest for the Math and Sciences. By the time he reached eighth grade, he was at the top of his class and he graduated Solitarian.
Dr. Kwakye had fruitful high school years at Port Richmond High School
in Staten Island, New York. He continued to chase his interest in the
Math and Sciences as he enrolled in the Gateway Science and Math Honors Program at Port Richmond. Over the years in the program, he acquired an understanding of the diversity of the sciences and what it has to offer. He was also fortunate enough to have his first clinical experience the summer after sophomore year working at a medical Summer Internship program at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, New York. It was here where he realized that his interest in the Math and Sciences was leaning towards the medical direction. He  was able to work in the medical
records department where he learned about the logistics of filing medical
records. He was also blessed with the opportunity to shadow a radiologist
and pediatrician. Dr. Kwakye recalls how interesting it was for him
at this time in his life because he was exposed to medicine in a way he
never was before. He has noted how both the radiologist and pediatrician
were “Medical Doctors” but their daily responsibilities and their interactions with patients were very different.
This glimpse in the diversity of the medical world intrigued his interest
in the medical field further. As college approached, he envisioned the opportunity for personal growth and the discovery of many interests that would mold and enhance his college experience. He realized that not only did he want to pursue a personal interest in the biological sciences, but also to learn a great deal about the behavioral sciences, sociology, and epidemiology as well. During his first semester at Penn State University College Park in Fall 2005, he declared a major undecided as he searched for the best major for him. He was fortunate enough to come across a fairly new major offered at Penn State called Bio-behavioral Health. Bio-behavioral health gave him the opportunity to learn about psychology, biology, epidemiology, and socially and how they intertwine and relate to each other. The major also had a strong focus on fundamental science as a
basis for excellence in clinical care and preventative medicine. He was
enrolled in courses with students aspiring to be future nurses, PA’s, DO’s
and MD’s. This was the diversity in medicine he was looking for, and he
imagined that this would equip him with the tools necessary to excel on his journey to medical school. During his sophomore year, his mother
was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was through his periodic home trips
and visits with her to see her family doctor and oncologist that solidified
his pursuit to become a doctor. Not only did he learn a lot about breast
cancer and pharmacotherapy/chemotherapy but he observed how empathetic, caring, and helpful both doctors were towards his mother. They genuinely took their time to address all of his mother’s concerns and needs as she was going through this difficult time. Dr. Kwakye promised himself that as a future doctor, he would try his best to make all his patients feel at ease, and to emulate the approach towards patient care as he had witnessed. In Fall 2010, he enrolled at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY.
His transition into the Syracuse Community was a good one especially
because two of his younger sisters attended Syracuse University and were close by. He enjoyed living in Syracuse and was very thankful that he finally reached one of his dreams. During his medical school experience, he had been blessed with both academic and personal growth.
He was very committed and involved in community outreach and community service during his time at Upstate Medical.
As president of the Student National Medical Association during his second year of medical school, he tutored at Martin Luther King Elementary School in Syracuse, New York and was involved in Youth Science Enrichment Programs. He organized medical school panels for undergraduate students interested in medical school. His community
service involvement included annual food drives, smoking cessation programs, breast cancer walks, and volunteering at community
homes such as Rescue Mission.
Not only was Dr.Kwakye involved in the community,  but he felt it very important to be a great mentor to other medical students who were in need of guidance.
Throughout his years in medical school, Dr. Kwakye was a student advisor as well as mentors in Health Advisor, in which he was able to tutor and
provide advice on time management, test taking skills, and study strategies.
Dr. Kwakye realized especially during his clinical years how delicate life is and how it should never be taken for granted. He really wants to
make a difference and leave a positive impact on every patient he interacts with. Dr. Kwakye graduated medical school at Upstate Medical University in May 2014. He began his residency training at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL in July 2014, with a specialization in Psychiatry and Pain Medicine.
He looks forward to the journey he has ahead to come.

Posted by admin on Sep 16 2014. Filed under Community News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry