Arizona Medicine Spotlight: Funmi Adeleye

As physicians and physicians-in-training, we are expected to have the knowledge to address almost any issue. However, many real-world challenges cannot be addressed in the classroom or clinical setting. To drive changes that affect both patients and physicians, passionate individuals must advocate and lend their voices to their community. As the largest organization in the state of Arizona that represents the interests of all physicians, involvement in ArMA means being a part of shaping the face of healthcare.

Growing up in a medically underserved community showed me a world with insufficient healthcare. Living in Lagos as a young girl, I witnessed the devastating health conditions of married underage girls, ailing neighbors with limited access to care, and grew up receiving care in medical facilities with poor sanitary conditions. This experience largely informed my decision to get involved in organized medicine. Physicians must collaborate to find solutions to health challenges and participate in shaping policies to achieve the best outcomes.

The time spent during my administrative residency at Mercy Health in Oklahoma City was one of my most memorable. I had the privilege of serving the health needs of the uninsured population by working on an outcomes-based pilot that utilized Community Health Workers to triage and manage their chronic conditions. I learned about their unique challenges including their social determinants of health as well as the decrease in health resources available to them. With this pilot, we demonstrated the ability to directly improve the health of the most impacted members in our community.

When I was 18, I was so worried about the future that I did not fully experience and maximize my present moments. In hindsight, I would tell my 18-year-old self to slow down, live in the present, and create memories with the ones I love. I would tell her to have some patience with herself and build good habits. Consistency always pays off.

Arizona has a thriving scene of young professionals with unlimited opportunities to network and grow as future leaders. With its beautiful desert scenery and an endless array of activities, I can work hard and look forward to unwinding on my days off.

Having some quiet time to meditate and reflect before starting my day sets the tone for my perfect day. I would spend the day doing meaningful work and end my day knowing that I contributed something that was not there in the beginning.

My favorite meal is one of the popular savory delicacies in Nigeria – egusi and fufu. Egusi soup is chock-full of assorted meat and thickened with ground melon seeds balanced with leafy green vegetables enveloped in layers of nutty and spicy flavors. On the side is fufu, a traditional starchy blend of yams with a pull-apart dough-like texture. My least favorite meal is anything with a banana in it (except for banana bread).

My family is my greatest source of inspiration. I would not be where I am without my parent’s nurturing, my husband’s encouragement, my siblings’ support, and the motivation to be my daughter’s role model. Whenever I stumble upon roadblocks, my family helps me see things differently, and this shift in perspective always enables me to thrive in the face of adversity. I am also inspired by authenticity. I revel in being in spaces where truth exists along with vulnerability. Most of the people who have left indelible marks on my journey are those whose true stories informed my path to success.

Editor’s Note: This interview was originally posted by Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) on June 28, 2022.

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