HEALTHY PRIORITIES. A

Dr. Nesochi, internal medicine specialist at Clara Maass Medical Center, in her office with her mother, Dr. Irene Okeke.

MAKING AN IMPACT

University School of Medicine, Dr. Nesochi (who uses her first name Queens. She’s currently in a private

Both mother and daughter have used their medical skills to reach national and international audiences. “Years ago, I realized I had to get out of the box and extend my services to less privileged people,” says Dr. Okeke. In 1998, she set up the Nigerian Army Audiological Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, which provides hearing health services to the military as well as hospitals, schools and a number of other organizations. She also founded the International Hearing Center in Nigeria, HEALTHY which includes four locations. Dr. Okeke credits her daughter with helping her in these endeavors. “She has come with me on many of my travels,” PRIORITIES she says. Meanwhile, Dr. Nesochi has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, Glamour and other magazines, and has also been a health resource for CNN, CBS News, Fox News A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, BOTH DOCTORS, SHARE and the BBC. Her goal, she says, is to A DEDICATION TO SERVING PATIENTS. correct misinformation about health trends and encourage a measured and thoughtful

Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe, MS, MD, practice at Clara Maass Medical Center That’s also the goal for her private was very goal-oriented as a girl, (CMMC). And her mother is nearby: practice. “I always want to motivate my recalls her mother, Irene Okeke, Dr. Okeke, an audiologist, has a private patients to make their health a priority,” AuD. “I can remember, one day, when we practice in Maplewood and also a second says Dr. Nesochi. “I have a lot of patients were in church when she was about 14, private practice at CMMC. who have failed to go to their doctors for Nesochi turned to me and said, ‘Mommy, I “Both of us being doctors has united routine screenings and examinations. am going to be a doctor.’ us and brought us closer, and not just “Sometimes I reach out personally to

“I remember feeling, at that moment, professionally. It has really fortified the let them know they are past due for certain that I knew she was going to make it. And mother-daughter bond,” says Dr. Nesochi. tests. If there’s a cholesterol problem, I said back to her, ‘Nesochi, you are going “With any medical practice, there are we take time to figure out a strategy to to be a doctor.’” bumps in the road, so it is very special bring down the numbers. I will create an

And today, she is. After getting a when you have your mother to guide individualized plan to bring down their master’s degree in Clinical Evaluative you. Having that support system telling weight, if needed. I believe in talking with Sciences from Dartmouth College and you that everything will be okay makes a my patients holistically to make their a medical degree from Georgetown world of difference.” overall health better.” professionally) did a residency in internal For a referral to a Clara Maass Medical Center physician, medicine at New York-Presbyterian call 888.724.7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/claramaass. approach to personal health.