11/09/2020
So beyond honored to be featured by “Though what we do sometimes seems like icing on the cake, sometimes, it’s the whole damn cake!”—Dr. Kpaduwa, on the specialty of reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Chinwe Sonia Kpaduwa is a first generation immigrant from Nigeria who is now a Craniofacial fellowship-trained private practice surgeon, whose “side-hustle” is growing a foundation in Nigeria that can provide reconstructive surgery to under-served patients in Southeastern Nigeria.
How did she get there?
Born in Kentucky and raised in Maryland, Dr. Kpaduwa always wanted to do good work and be a good person. In college, at Harvard, she realized community organizing was a way to create sustainable, reliable social change. After graduating with a degree in Biochemistry, she took a year in Boston working with young people to create jobs for themselves. Combining her interest in science with community organizing, she saw being a doctor as a meaningful way to connect with her community.
While attending medical school at Georgetown, a friend of hers visited to interview for plastic surgery residency, and suggested she look into the specialty. She spent a few weeks rotating on plastic surgery, where rounds started at 4am, and the day sometimes didn’t end until 11pm. Despite this grueling schedule, this experience opened her eyes to all the complex reconstruction performed by plastic surgeons. She loved the teamwork, how important the work was, and the type of people that chose plastic surgery as a profession.
She completed her plastic surgery residency at UCSD, and still recalls fondly her interview with . “It left such an impression…She is completely amazing, and I love her more than I can say.” Dr. Gosman is a senior, female pediatric craniofacial surgeon who is Founder of non-profit , and with her mentorship, Dr. Kpaduwa was encouraged to pursue her interest in international medicine, public health, and pediatric plastic surgery.
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