Dr. Emma Omoruyi, a pediatrician in Houston, TX who is the child of Nigerian immigrants narrates how her parents migrated from Nigeria in the mid-1970s in the aftermath of the Nigerian civil war, the Biafran War. She narrates how her parents met and the circumstances surrounding the birth of her brother. Dr. Omoruyi gives perspective on some of the difficulties faced by immigrants from a physician’s perspective. She explains ways African immigrants can empower themselves and ways in which the medical community can help empower these patients and create a more positive and welcoming environment for them.

Simi, an international student in her mid-20s who has now been in the United States for about a decade. She narrates her experiences as a young immigrant finding care in a new country and how that looked different being under the “protection” of the undergraduate system to then transitioning to post-graduation. She explains the sense of isolation and loss that can occur when one's understanding of society is useless in a newfound country; especially, in terms of how the American healthcare system works. She also narrates how the different laws surrounding the health insurance mandate influenced her experience and the negative turn of her health shortly after the requirement for insurance was removed. She shares with us her experience during her first OBGYN visit and reflects upon ways the experience could have gone better.

Mr. and Mrs. Akinfemiwa narrate their experiences immigrating to the U.S. discussing how they navigated life with and without health insurance, dealing with pregnancy without any health insurance, the birth of their children, where they chose to live, and how that impacted the care that they received. Interestingly, they also share how possession of health insurance became one of the most significant factors in the decisions that they made. They explain what impact these experiences had on their lives and reflect on ways that the American healthcare system can improve.

This podcast series looks into the experiences of African immigrants navigating the American healthcare system and explores barriers that limit accessibility to quality healthcare. The goal is to educate healthcare providers by shedding light on the experiences of a rapidly growing population and to call for change to improve care and bridge the gap between the patient and physician.