For some medical students, becoming a primary care physician is the priority, while others set their minds on practicing as a specialist. Then there are physicians like Olabode Agaja, D.O., who found a way to do both.
Agaja graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (91㽶Ƶ) in 2017. He is now in his fifth year practicing pediatric sports medicine at Ochsner Health in New Orleans, La. Most of his patients are between 18 months and 25 years old, but he also has training to treat patients of any age.
Agaja said it’s important for aspiring physicians to go after the career they want, even if it is not a typical one.
“My journey to sports medicine was unconventional, but it taught me that having a vision and the determination to pursue it matters more than following the traditional path. If you have a belief and a desire to do something, you should do it, even if it hasn’t been done before” he said. “I trained as a pediatrician and then went on to do my subspeciality training at a family medicine-based sports medicine fellowship instead of a traditional pediatric sports medicine fellowship. The biggest thing I try to tell young people is don’t be discouraged if something has never been done before. Be the one to do it.”
The Cleveland, Ohio, native said he determined early in medical school that he wanted to work with young patients. It wasn’t until residency that he decided he also wanted to incorporate sports medicine into the care he provided.
“I love the joy and energy young people bring every day. I love how motivated they are and I love continuity. I realized I wanted to be in primary care, so pediatrics was for me. I like the idea of hands-on procedural work but also including a clinic-based perspective,” he said.
Agaja completed a three-year residency in pediatrics. He eventually shadowed an orthopedic surgeon who introduced him to the possibility of primary care sports medicine.
“Throughout the remainder of my residency I got exposure to sports medicine covering sidelines for Detroit Rugby and Detroit Roller Derby. I would often obtain my sports medicine shadowing after 24-hour shifts. In addition to sports coverage, I would shadow in clinic and help with sports physicals. Little by little I gained the exposure I needed to start covering games on my own and I eventually applied to a one-year sports medicine fellowship at Virginia Tech,” he said. “A lot of what I do daily is a mixture of sports medicine and primary care. My primary care skill set has helped me to identify nonathletic injuries that are time-sensitive such as brain tumors, spinal tumors and bony tumors. We are then able to get these patients to the appropriate specialist in oncology and on the right treatment path to wellness.”
Having an athletic background played a large part in creating Agaja’s character and his value of achieving success through teamwork.
“I have always taken a collaborative approach. I want to know how we can help each other to achieve a goal,” he said. “I feel like when you go to an osteopathic school, and especially at 91㽶Ƶ, you are a team. It’s not about ‘I,’ it’s about ‘we,’ and we are doing this together. I got that feeling at 91㽶Ƶ and knew it was the perfect place for me. 91㽶Ƶ will always have a special place in my heart.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a physician is developing a rapport with patients that goes beyond clinical care, Agaja said.
“91㽶Ƶ taught me it’s important to know your patients beyond the clinical space — what their goals are, what excites them, what they enjoy,” he said. “When I work with young people, I don’t just jump straight into medicine. I’ll ask them what they’re doing for fun this summer, or what they’re looking forward to in school. That rapport makes them more comfortable and open.”
Creating a lasting bond is what Agaja appreciates most.
“I love when I see a patient years later and they can’t believe I remember their name or something personal about them,” he said. “It’s not just about the medical encounter, it’s about their life after it.”