In 2020, when she was in high school, Modupe Karimi SM ’26 heard a story on the news about a Black woman who died while giving birth and whose child did not survive.
“That led me into a deep dive on the Black maternal mortality rate in this country,” Modupe says. “Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than any other racial group.” She also learned how high the rates of infant mortality are for Black babies in America. She decided then that she would become a doctor.
“The health care system right now is lacking,” Modupe says. “It’s not doing enough for Black and brown people.”
Modupe, who resides in Silliman College, is a pre-med majoring in history of science, medicine, and public health. “I really wanted to delve into the humanities and policy side of medicine and understand the policies that affect people,” she says. “As a med student, I will inevitably learn about biology and human anatomy. But I really wanted to understand why certain health disparities persist in order to be a better physician and treat my patients to the best of my ability.”
Modupe is also on the board of the Nigerian Student Association and is studying Yoruba. “Many universities don’t offer West African languages,” she says. “The fact that I can come here and learn my language, surrounded by my Yoruba community, truly is a blessing.”
As a member of the Afro-American Cultural Center, Modupe helps create merchandise to raise funds for the center. “I can tap into my creative side and create merch that I think the Black community will love,” she says.
In addition to her classes, Modupe does research on sickle cell disease with clinical fellow Jennifer Afranie-Sakyi at the Yale School of Medicine. They recently presented their findings at the American Society of Hematology conference.
“Sickle cell runs in my family,” Modupe says. “So I really wanted to research it while an undergrad.” Her current research is on the effects of sickle cell disease on the neurocognition of people with the disease.
“If you had told me, as a senior in high school, that I would be researching sickle cell while pursuing a pre-med education, I would have jumped for joy,” Modupe says. “I’m pursuing exactly what I hoped to pursue.”
Modupe credits scholarship support from Yale with helping to make her endeavors possible. “Yale has allowed me to fly with no limits,” she says. “I wouldn’t be here without the scholarship I received. This support has allowed me to flourish and not be stressed about finances. And I know that if an emergency pops up, Yale can provide support for that, too, through the Yale College Safety Net.”