Efe Airewele
(She/Her/Hers)
Class of 2026
Home city and state: Lynn, MA
Undergraduate degree: Cornell University Global and Public Health Sciences
Student organizations and affinity groups
- Feinberg Christian Fellowship (FCF)
- Student National Medical Association (SNMA)
- AAMC OSR Representative Class of 2026
- ECMH Chief
- Student Review Panel Member
What do you enjoy most about living in Chicago?
I love the culture of Chicago! I was initially worried about being in a big city, but I have not found Chicago to be overwhelming at all. It's nice that there's always some festival, show or activity to check out! I really enjoyed the Millennium Park Summer Music Series. CIMAFUNK, an Afro-Cuban musician, was amazing and everyone was dancing and having such a good time when he was performing!
Share your path to Feinberg
I wasn't actually on the "pre-med track" at my undergrad until around my junior year! I really enjoyed my major (Global and Public Health Sciences) and I thought I wanted a career more focused on population level health than clinical medicine. Being raised in a low-income community by an immigrant single mother, I was particularly interested in social determinants of health and how we can better support marginalized communities. It wasn't until I started getting more experience in international clinical research that I realized I wanted to go to medical school.
Through the Global Health Program at my undergrad, I completed research in Zambia centered around people with intellectual disabilities. I also volunteered at pop up clinics in Ghana screening low-income community members for diabetes and hypertension. The summer before my senior year I traveled to Mwanza, Tanzania to assist in ongoing schistosomiasis research. Then, I took 2 gap years where I worked at Massachusetts General Hospital's Infectious Disease Division. I participated in Feinberg's Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Summer Pre Matriculation Program for 4 weeks before beginning my M1 year!
How would you describe the curriculum at Feinberg? What do you find unique or innovative?
I would describe the curriculum at Feinberg as extremely collaborative. Classmates share notes, flashcards, mnemonics and so much more so that we can all succeed. Feinberg's curriculum is competency based and pass/fail which I think contributes to the collaborative nature of students. The culture of collaboration makes such a huge difference in the day to day of medical school. This culture of collaboration continues across class years especially in the Education Centered Medical Home (ECMH). Every student is placed in a longitudinal clinic their first year and continues in that clinic for their time at Feinberg. Through ECMH medical students are able to collaborate with students from other class years, which is so valuable. Older medical students have been incredibly supportive and helpful as I practice my clinical skills and build confidence.
Topics I can discuss with prospective students:
- Student Organizations/Affinity Groups (please see list above)
- Faith and medical school
- URM perspective
- Academic Support
- Life in Chicago
- Student Wellness
