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Ekaete Ekpo

2x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Art
  • Journaling
  • Painting and Studio Art
  • Travel And Tourism
  • Community Service And Volunteering

Reading

  • Adult Fiction
  • Art
  • Cultural
  • Psychology

I read books multiple times a month.

Bio

Hello! My name is Ekaete (eh-ky-tay). I have a B.A. in Psychology from Johns Hopkins University, and I'm a 2nd-year medical student at Howard University College of Medicine. As an aspiring physician, I am motivated by my desire to learn, grow, and serve others. I am passionate about mental health and promoting patient-centered care, and these passions fuel my interest in medicine, mental health care, and health disparities research. Two of my missions are to help reduce health disparities and to be a true advocate for underserved patients. In college, I committed to research and volunteer initiatives that uplift marginalized groups, particularly people with stigmatized mental illnesses (at the NIH), people living with socioeconomic adversity (at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center), and Black undergraduates dealing with underrepresentation in academia (at Johns Hopkins' School of Public Health). As a medical student, a mentor, and a student-run clinic volunteer, I support members of these communities by prioritizing their needs, collaborating with them in my workplace, and advocating for them in clinical environments. After medical school, I want to continue investigating factors that affect patients’ access and responses to clinical interventions. I plan to practice in an underserved community and form meaningful long-term relationships with a diverse group of patients and colleagues.

Education

Howard University

Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

2025 – 2029

Majors:
  • Medicine

Johns Hopkins University

Bachelor's degree program

2018 – 2022

Majors:
  • Psychology, General
Minors:
  • Visual and Performing Arts, General

Eleanor Roosevelt High

High School

2014 – 2018

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
Medicine
Desired degree modality:
In-Person
Medical school interest:
Yes

Career

  • Mentoring Corps Leader

    Mental Health Care · HBCU Pre-Career Footsteps Mentoring Corps

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Secretary

    Medicine · Howard Psychiatry Interest Group

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Data Entry Assistant

    Research · Johns Hopkins ProHealth Clinical Research Unit

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2020

  • Brain Stimulation Technician, Therapist, Study Coordinator, Co-Author

    Mental Health Care · National Institute of Mental Health

    Jan 2022 – Present

  • Summer Research Intern

    Research · National Institute on Drug Abuse (MRI and Spectroscopy)

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2021

  • Resident Advisor (RA)

    Health, Wellness, and Fitness · Johns Hopkins University (Residential Life)

    Jan 2019 – Jan 2022

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Physician; Researcher; Mentor; Advocate
Work experience:
7 years
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
William A. Lewis Scholarship
As a medical student who was initially rejected from medical school, the support of my family, peers, and mentors has been invaluable. After many deep conversations with my loved ones and many lessons learned throughout the past 6 years, in retrospect, I would tell my younger self: “1) Be patient. 2) Cherish your time with your loved ones. 3) Appreciate each win along the way.” I discovered my interest in medicine for the first time in college. As a research assistant for studies exploring addiction, COVID-19, and depression, I became fascinated with how body systems are connected, and I found myself wanting to work more closely with patients who were dealing with co-occurring conditions. After volunteering at a primary care clinic in Baltimore for the first time, I knew that I wanted to become a physician so that I could build long-term relationships with patients and take a leadership role in their clinical care. I decided to apply to medical school as a senior in college and planned to start medical school at 23 years old. When I was invited for an interview with Howard University College of Medicine, I was thrilled! After being waitlisted, I learned in July that I would not be admitted into the Class of 2027. For me, this is where Lesson #1 started: I learned that a delay in achieving your dreams does not mean that they will never come true; you may just achieve them later than you expected. After I was not admitted to medical school in 2023, I initially felt down and had doubts about pursuing a career in medicine. Throughout that year, I thought deeply about my career path, and my loved ones helped me expand my mindset about what was right for me. With 2 more years to explore life outside of school, I was able to enjoy a new lifestyle, live in a new area, and continue my personal and professional growth. Moving further away from my loved ones tested our bonds but ultimately brought us closer together. While shadowing, I became more open-minded about the possibility of entering specialties like primary care and neurology. As I spent more time volunteering at my local hospital and started attending scientific conferences in California and Texas, I learned that I thrive in fast-paced environments. While connecting with my friends who were in medical school, I learned more about what it is like to be a medical student. These experiences reminded to enjoy my time with my loved ones and to explore my interests before committing to my future (Lesson #2). Looking back on my initial rejection from medical school with the insight that I have now, I would have quickly seen that disappointment is an opportunity to approach your goals in a new way (Lesson #3). Although my initial plan didn’t go how I expected, I had life-changing experiences during the past 6 years that made it all worth it. I developed a deep appreciation for each new experience and accomplishment that came along this journey – each patient interaction, each research discovery, and each life lesson. Now that I’ve started my 1st year of medical school, I look forward to maintaining a resilient attitude to excel as a physician, while giving back to my loved ones and my community along the way.
Ekaete Ekpo Student Profile | Bold.org