Page 34 - MSM Bloomberg Scholarship

Bloomberg Scholarship Impact
Making Student Dreams A Reality
Ngafla Bakayoko
Silver Spring, MD
2nd-year M.D. student
Why did you choose More-
house School of Medicine? I chose
to attend Morehouse School of
Medicine because of its mission of ing medicine to become a
eradicating health inequities and
serving those underserved was
congruent with my own reason
for pursuing medicine. I wanted
to go to a school that would mold
me into a compassionate and
skilled doctor, and I am confident
that Morehouse School of Medi-
cine will do that.
Was the institution’s mission
important to you, when you were
choosing a medical school? The
institutions mission was the main
driver for me attending More-
house School of Medicine. I knew
that I would become a compas-
sionate and skilled physician by
receiving an education here and
that is the kind of physician need- accomplishing all tasks set in front we receive love and appreciation
ed in the world today.
Has the financial burden of
medical school been particularly
difficult for you? I always think
that when I am where I am sup-
posed to be, all other needs—
money, housing, necessities—will
all work themselves out. Coming
into MSM, I was told by my finan-
cial advisor to not be afraid of the
debt I would accumulate because
it is priceless compared to the im-
pact I will have on the world and
my patients.
The generosity of the school
has proven to me that I the system of racism and
educational disparities
am supported financial-
ly here. Receiving the that leave little room for
Bloomberg scholarship the black community to
has further reinforced prosper.
that when I am in my It is important to
purpose, which is study- address this shortage
because black people
physician, I will be taken are dying—black moth-
care of. ers, black babies, black
children, black fathers, and black
Please share how scholarship girls—all at a greater proportion
support helps you — academical- than any other racial counter-
ly, professionally, and personally? parts.
This scholarship has helped moti- If we are to grow a community
vate me through some tough mo- of black doctors who know the
ments. As a second-year student, obstacles their communities face,
the workload increased drastically we will be able to address this
from the year prior, as we are racial disparity that is occurring
preparing for board examinations. in our county.
It is easy to doubt yourself and
want to give up when the required If you could say or do one
level of performance is so high. thing to thank the Bloomberg
Knowing there are people that Philanthropies’ Greenwood Ini-
believe in me so much as to invest tiative, what would it be? Thank
in my education encourages me you for investing in the black
to understand that I am capable of community. Time and time again,
of me. from others for our dedication in
improving our community, but it
What is your take on the means so much to have someone
nationwide shortage of Black financially invest in our mission
doctors? It’s interesting to read to aid our community. Thank
accounts, showing that black peo- you for seeing us, hearing us, and
ple are not less smart or incapable believing in us.
of becoming doctors, rather it is
Knowing there are people that believe in
me so much as to invest in my education
“ encourages me to understand that I am
capable of accomplishing all tasks set in
front of me.