Charlotte med school student leans on personal experience

WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Nneayo Okabuonye is a first-year student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine's Charlotte campus.

Medical students at Wake Forest University School of Medicine are receiving white coats at ceremonies in Winston-Salem and Charlotte. 

As the Class of 2030 begin their medical education, they arrive with different life experiences, motivations and visions. Yet, for the 48 students at the Charlotte campus and 145 in Winston-Salem, a common thread runs through their decisions to pursue medicine:  make a difference in the lives of patients.

For Nneayo Okabuonye, who is studying in Charlotte, that calling began at home in South Holland, Illinois.

“From a young age, I remember always playing doctor, looking up surgeries on YouTube and annoying my mom by asking her how the medicine she gave me knew where to work," she said.
In her early teens, that curiosity developed into a desire to pursue a medical career when she witnessed a family member battle illness. 

“The physicians who cared for them brought clarity during a difficult time by showing me what dedication to finding answers and compassion for patients truly looked like," Okabuonye said. “From that experience, I knew I wanted to become a physician who balances curiosity with genuine compassion and an unwavering dedication to helping patients find answers.”

Garikoitz Gainza, a Winston-Salem campus MD student, was inspired to pursue a medical career when his own health challenge changed the direction and tune of his life. After moving from Madrid, Spain, to Orlando, Florida, as a child, Gainza’s mother noticed he had poor hearing. She would often speak to him, and he would not respond or give a delayed response. In school, the condition led to poor academic performance, his grades suffered, and as a concert violinist, he sometimes missed cues or notes because he couldn’t hear them. 

Under the care of an ear, nose and throat specialist, Gainza received a diagnosis and surgery – ear tubes that allow fluid to drain, and restored his hearing. He was able to interact better with the world around him, his grades improved and his violin playing peaked.  

“I believe that because of this surgeon, the outlook of my life was changed forever," he said. “My goal is to change the lives of my patients the way this surgeon changed my life. I hope to become the kind of physician who listens with empathy, sees the person beyond the diagnosis, and leaves every patient with the same sense of hope and possibility that my physician gave me.”

Before enrolling in medical school, both students gained formative experiences that shaped the physicians they hope to become.

Okabuonye worked as a patient care technician in a dialysis clinic on Chicago’s South Side. She saw adult patients of all ages, many of whom faced not only kidney disease but additional challenges, like transportation barriers and food insecurity. Okabuonye learned how finding even one thing in common with patients can build trust. 

“Dialysis isn't an easy process, so seeing a patient smile at one of my jokes while I was cannulating them or hearing them share stories about their families reminded me that I was making a difference,” she said. “I hope to carry those same qualities forward by listening carefully, building trust and advocating for my patients, both inside and outside the exam room.”

Music taught Gainza to be relentless, disciplined and hard-working — qualities he passed on as a violin tutor at a nonprofit organization, providing free music education to children from underserved communities. This experience prepared him for his future career. 

“Music has also taught me communication, compromise and mentorship skills, which I believe will translate well with my future career in medicine,” Gainza said. “Beyond providing excellent medical care, I hope to be a steady source of reassurance and hope, helping my patients feel confident that they are never facing their challenges alone.”

With their journeys informing who they’ve become, the students are ready for the demands of medical school — long hours that require perseverance and a commitment to lifelong learning.  

“I hope to bring compassion, unwavering advocacy and dedication to every patient I care for,” Okabuonye said. “I'm looking forward to immersing myself in everything there is to learn, both clinically and academically. I'm also excited to build meaningful relationships with my classmates and become part of a supportive medical school community.”

Said Gainza: “I'm excited to develop the skills needed to care for patients during some of the most challenging moments of their lives and to learn from faculty, mentors and classmates who share a commitment to excellence and service. Most of all, I look forward to growing into the kind of physician who combines clinical expertise with empathy to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my patients.”

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