Resident Dr. Tomi Obafemi establishes Cardiothoracic Surgery Diversifying Pipeline Award

by Roxanna Van Norman
March 15, 2023

Over the summer of 2022, the Stanford Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery partnered with the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) Summer Research Program, a ten-week internship designed to provide research training experiences to a diverse cohort of future cardiovascular scientists.

To improve the pipeline of underrepresented minority (URM) researchers in cardiothoracic surgery, Oluwatomisin “Tomi” Obafemi, MD, received departmental funding to establish the Cardiothoracic Surgery Diversifying Pipeline Award program. He worked with the CVI Summer Research Program to fund three summer research interns interested in cardiovascular medicine and surgery.

“The Cardiothoracic Surgery Diversifying Pipeline Award program allowed these young students to gain access to the field of cardiothoracic surgery in a way they had never imagined. My hope is that it lights a fire that will propel them along their journey,” said Obafemi. 

Jack Boyd, MD, clinical associate professor of cardiothoracic surgery, was the faculty lead for the project. “Dr. Obafemi conceptualized this undertaking, identified the appropriate program with which to partner, and brought this program to fruition. With emerging leaders like Dr. Obafemi, great things for our field should be expected,” Boyd said.

As part of the CVI Summer Research Program, the students were connected with faculty mentors and worked on a summer research project. In addition to mentorship opportunities, each student received funding to cover the costs of travel, housing, and a Kaplan MCAT preparation program.

“The MCAT, like any standardized test, requires knowledge and test-taking skills. The Kaplan program we provide for the students gives them both and will hopefully result in them achieving the scores necessary to get into medical school.” said Obafemi. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and completed his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

The students participated in numerous events hosted by the CVI Summer Research Program and presented their projects at a research symposium at the end of the program. The pipeline award will continue in 2023 with the summer research program.

Learn more about the CVI Summer Research Program.