Making a Way for the
Next Generation of Ophthalmologists
BY VICKI FRYE
T
emitope (“Temi”) Adeleke already has a number of “firsts” under her belt. She is a first generation American, the first in her family to pursue a doctoral degree and most recently, the first Underrepresented Minority in Medicine (URiM) Medical Student Summer Research Intern at Duke Eye Center.
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DUKE EYE CENTER
2022
medicine and came across an opening for the URiM Summer Research Internship at Duke Eye Center. Recognizing the importance of gaining research experience and with just days remaining before the deadline, she submitted her application for consideration. Then finally, after weeks of waiting, Adeleke received the good news that she’d been chosen to participate in the eight-week internship.
Adeleke earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland and is currently a first-year medical student at Southern Illinois “Ophthalmology has a severe deficit of University Medical School. She discovered underrepresented minorities. We are thrilled her interest in ophthalmology shortly to add the summer research internship before finishing her to our efforts to recruit undergraduate degree, underrepresented medical “This internship gave while working as an students to the field,” said ophthalmic technician at Goldis Malek, PhD, vice chair me an unmatched a small ophthalmology for diversity and inclusion in opportunity to learn practice in Chevy Chase, Ophthalmology. Maryland. She credits from doctors who the doctors and staff Custom-Designed are the best at what she worked alongside Program at Children’s National they do—it truly The first of its kind at Duke Hospital in Washington Eye Center, the organizers of solidified my passion D.C. with encouraging the internship program along her to actively pursue the for ophthalmology and with her mentors, structured practice of ophthalmology a learning environment inspired me to tap into by creating opportunities specifically for Adeleke— for her to observe clinics my inquisitive nature personalizing it to meet her and assist with hands-on unique goals and providing patient care. and seek out research her with the chance to shadow In early 2021, after world renowned researchers opportunities in this applying to medical and clinician-scientists from a field.” school, Adeleke joined variety of subspecialties. an online community of Temi Adeleke “We created an experience for minority students who Duke Eye Center, 2021 Summer Temi so that she could have a were pursuing careers in Research Intern range of research exposure >
