Becoming a Hormone Doctor
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog highlighting stories of Black women’s struggles and successes.
By Hadiatou Wann | 07/17/20
Hawa Tunkara, M.D. grew up in a happy home even though they were not the wealthiest. From the get go, teachers saw potential in her. Many told her that she could become a doctor. But It wasn’t until she reached high school she fully considered becoming a doctor.
“I want to do medicine not just for the title but to help people that look like me,” Hawa expressed. In her journey of becoming a doctor, she took a year off and worked in the department of social services, where she tutored foster care boys and girls and helped them prepare for Regents exams. While in college, she also volunteered at a children’s hospital, where she participated in activities with children who have HIV and Sickle Cell Disease while they waited for the doctor to see them.
Also, while in college, she worked as volunteer social worker and in the NYC Department of Health, as means to address the social barriers like income that affect health. These experiences made her realize that she connected well with young people and can use medicine as a platform to improve the health of people from disadvantaged backgrounds..
One day, while Hawa was fasting during Ramadan, she noticed that she was tired more than usual. She felt as though she would pass out. She immediately went to the hospital. When the nurse showed Hawa that her blood sugar was very high, she immediately started crying. As a medical student, she knew it was not a good sign. That day she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
She was saddened by the unexpected results, and couldn’t understand how a disease she has done nothing to acquire was going to alter her life. Forever. She says that most people only know of type 2 diabetes because type 1 is less common.
Having type 1 diabetes means that she no longer has the hormone that controls blood sugar. Hawa points out that symptoms of type 1 diabetes include drinking excessive water and waking up several times during the night to urinate.
With the changes in Hawa’s health, how did she manage to be productive in medical school?
She knew that giving insulin injections in public was going to become her new norm. Instead of keeping her health condition a secret, Hawa opened up to her friends in medical school, who turned out to be supportive and attentive to her needs. For instance, Hawa’s friends always made sure she had enough snacks to avoid a drop in her blood sugar. “They were like family,” Hawa says.
4 years of undergraduate studies, taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) before being admitted into 4 years of medical school, taking 3 board exams, followed by a residency training program, the journey of becoming a doctor seems long and tedious. To the girls who want to become a doctor but are hesitating due to cultural reasons or self-doubt, Hawa’s advice to them is to reconsider it.
Currently, Hawa is doing her residency in pediatrics in hopes of becoming a endocrinologist (hormone doctor) for children. When she tells the children in her unit that she, too, has type 1 diabetes, their faces light up as it gives them hope that they could grow up to become successful despite having an incurable disease.
The Gambian-American doctor says that, more than any other profession, being a doctor is a profession where you know people up close and personal. From seeing patients’ bare bodies to hearing their most intimate stories that they don’t share with others, doctors get to see them in their most vulnerable state. She adds that doctors have to be very attentive when patients speak in order to avoid missing important information. This builds trust and allows them to better care for their patients.
Hawa and Fahimy Salomon have been close friends since City College. She says: “Hawa is truly compassionate, ambitious and a spiritual human being. She is fearless in terms of fighting for causes that are truly a humanitarian in every aspect of her life.Her tenacity to being the best doctor is inspiring to every young black woman who had the privilege and blessing of knowing this amazing young woman.”
“Her loyalty and dedication to the people she loved and her dreams of being the greatest doctor is unmatchable. Hawa is truly passionate about giving back to the Bronx community. Her skills and fearless dedication to serving humanity will be the greatest blessing to any institution,” she added.
In the past, Hawa worked at the New York City Department of Health in evaluating the state’s early intervention program as well as some new initiatives to bring more health, social resources to Harlem. She became more aware that the current healthcare system has the resources to but does not uplift low income, diverse communities. In the near future, she wants to go back to impact on Black and immigrant communities.
The disease Hawa thought was a hindrance turned out to be a blessing. It inspires her to become a doctor that works with children who must learn to live with the same disease she was diagnosed with. Only in her early 20s, Hawa's transparency, bravery and attitude towards life is admirable. Her success story shows that if you own who you are, opportunities are bound to come your way.
Welcome to Hawa’s World
“Surround yourself with a group of people that you connect with and can learn from.”
While pursuing her degree, Hawa recalls having to adjust her schedule to do house chores, while her brother didn’t have to. She felt that if she were a man, she wouldn’t have had to make those sacrifices.
“I want to do medicine not just for the title but to help people that look like me.”
Connect with Hawa:
Facebook: Hawa Tunkara
Instagram: @curlspoppin_hawa
Email: hawatunkara9@gmail.com
Read other success stories here: www.iamafricanandican.com/blog
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