The Immigrant Professionals Fellowship gave Yakubu the opportunity to enter the American workforce and provided him the experience to pursue a career as an academic clinician.

Originally from Accra, Ghana, where he attended medical school and worked as a medical officer, Yakubu came to the United States in January 2021 to pursue his master’s degree in public health. Despite his education, he struggled to find mentorship and work opportunities for his career goals. He realized there were significant cultural differences between Ghana and the United States and felt it was difficult to navigate those obstacles without support.

After being selected for the Immigrant Professionals Fellowship, Yakubu was placed at Boston Children's Hospital, working alongside physicians and research clinicians. He assisted with research, enrolled patients in ongoing studies, and added to his resume, which he hopes will help him when he applies for a residency position in the United States.

Yakubu said his experience at Boston Children's Hospital was wonderful because he was surrounded by kind and supportive colleagues and mentors. He is grateful for the guidance he received through African Bridge Network and the City of Boston. Yakubu is now hopeful for the future and hopes to continue his work in cardiovascular health.