Touro Medical Grads Receive New York State Service Award

“They have provided outstanding service to the community, selflessly and with great skill,” said TouroCOM Executive Dean Robert Goldberg in calling the student doctors up to receive the award.

Drs. Akinsanya and Shiraki pursued different paths but both dedicated themselves tirelessly, forgoing study time and social events to further causes they believed in. Dr. Akinsanya focused on helping underrepresented minorities gain a foothold in medicine and mentoring youth in Harlem who might one day want to pursue a career in health or science.

Dr. Shiraki donated her time to helping students learn the policy process as well as service. She organized health fairs, blood drives, served on medical missions abroad and took on leading roles in national and state medical societies where she directed programs and advocated on issues affecting minority communities.

“Jemima helped broadcast our mission throughout Harlem, and harnessed students and faculty alike to become active and embrace all peoples while learning the field of medicine,” said Dean Goldberg.  “Jean served as the representative of all 16 New York medical schools to the American Medical Association, earning a reputation among her peers for her health policy views and advocacy skills on a national scale.”

Both women were honored to receive the recognition.  Said Dr. Akinsanya: “Community outreach is an integral part of my commitment to healthcare and it is humbling to be recognized for it. I greatly appreciate the support and help of my Touro community – faculty and classmates - who dedicate much time and energy to community service.”

Dr. Shiraki said, “This award is really meaningful since I hope to practice community medicine as a family physician. MSSNY has been a big part of my medical school career and it's an honor to have received this award.”

Born in Nigeria

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Dr. Akinsanya moved to the United States when she was a year old and grew up in New Jersey. Her interest in bringing quality medical care to underserved communities crystallized when she was 16 years old after her grandfather, still in Nigeria, broke his hip and had to go without advanced medical care for a time. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology at Montclair State University, and then enrolled in Touro’s Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences program, which would lead her into the DO program a year later. 

At Touro, she mentored and tutored her peers as well as Harlem high school students who came to TouroCOM’s afterschool program MedAchieve. She worked at health fairs and partnered with a school in her Washington Heights community to give sixth graders an early exposure to the medical field through a program she initiated called “Mystery Diagnosis,” which involved giving lectures on asthma and heart disease.

A major project was her founding of COMPASS (Creating Osteopathic Minority Physicians who Achieve Scholastic Success), which recruits underrepresented minority applicants to TouroCOM and provides support services. “Touro students who are COMPASS members mentor premedical students, and Touro alumni and upperclassmen mentor younger med students,” she said.

“Jemima is always looking for ways to keep the community engaged in healthcare,” observed her former classmate and friend, Olga J. Jacques, DO. “I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside her and have seen her enthusiasm and dedication.  She is quick to help anyone in need [and] she truly lights up the room with her bright spirit and encouraging demeanor.”

Congressional Gold Medal

Dr. Shiraki has also been very engaged in service but her passion is teaching students how to advocate for civil rights and educating them on the policy process.  It’s something she learned before medical school when she spent two years advocating for the Japanese American “Nisei” Veterans to be honored with a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor given by Congress.

“I learned a lot about the process of passing a bill,” Dr. Shiraki explained, adding she had great uncles who served in the 442 Regimental Combat Team during World War II who were honored with the Medal. “Some first year students come in not knowing anything about the policy process. It’s so rewarding when they realize there’s more to medicine than studying anatomy. They see how policy can really affect communities.”

Dr. Shiraki was the first TouroCOM student to serve as chair of the Medical Student Section of MSSNY, and she had a long history of involvement with the American Medical Association (AMA) during her time at Touro.

“Jean has done a lot of work advocating for the profession and loves service. She is very well-spoken and knows a lot of health care policy,” said Maria Pino, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacology who taught her and observed her working in the community. “This award is very well-deserved.”

Leaving Touro will not mean the end of Dr. Shiraki’s policy work. She has landed a residency in family medicine at the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Washington, D.C., a community-focused consortium that supports serving the underserved and community medicine. She plans to continue her policy work upon her return to Washington.

Dr. Akinsanya will be heading to Emory University in Atlanta, where she will be a resident in neurology.

“Both Jemima and Jean are intelligent women who will be real assets to their communities. They don’t have that barrier you sometimes see with doctors; they know how to interact. I am very happy and excited for them and know they will do well,” said Dr. Pino.

About the Touro College and University System

Touro is a system of non-profit institutions of higher and professional education. Touro College was chartered in 1970 primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American and global community. Approximately 18,000 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College has 29 branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem and Moscow. New York Medical College, Touro University California and its Nevada branch campus, as well as Touro University Worldwide and its Touro College Los Angeles division are separately accredited institutions within the Touro College and University System. For further information on Touro College, please go to: http://www.touro.edu/news/