Meet Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi: ‘I probably spend more time on Twitter than I should’

DR. BOLU OGUNYEMI is a dermatologist in St. John’s, N.L., and clinical assistant professor of medicine at Memorial University. He described himself as “a proud father to two beautiful young daughters” and said that his hobbies included “being a (very) amateur finger puppeteer and storyteller.” What is an interesting experience you had recently? I was recently invited to Government House, the residence of Lieutenant Governor Judy Foote, for a Black History Month Celebration. Being a member of one of the first Black families to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador, it was a wonderful way to celebrate—with music, food and camaraderie—the growing Black community in this province and its many contributions. What would you like to be doing if you could teleport into any setting? On a beach in Barcelona, getting lost in a Moroccan medina or climbing Mount Fuji. I recommend all three! What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self? Choose dermatology. Definitely choose dermatology. Dad bod is real—keep some daily activity! Travel as much as you can—you never know when kids or a pandemic will put a damper on things! What is one of your favourite quotes? “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.” This is a wonderful African proverb and speaks to the importance of teamwork and unity—applicable to many areas in one’s personal and professional life. What are some of your favourite plays? This one is simple: Hamilton. I have listened to the soundtrack over 100 times and have memorized the majority of it. I identify with the immigrant experience and appreciate the various allusions to hip hop and R&B culture in the play. I was lucky to see it live in Chicago! What is something you spend more time on than you should? I probably spend more time on twitter (@OgunyemiMD) than I should. I like to keep engaged regularly as I find it’s a way to follow anything from public policy to medicine, local and global politics, local COVID updates and just lighthearted witty banter. I tend to post a lot about topics related to equity and diversity. What would you tell your children about going into medicine today? I will tell them that medicine is a challenging but truly rewarding career. I would do it all over again if I could. My children would be the third generation if they followed suit.

Meet Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi: ‘I probably spend more time on Twitter than I should’

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