Get To Know Me

Hello, my name is Dr. Eseosa Ighodaro, M.D., Ph.D. I was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky and then moved to Rochester, Minnesota in 2019. I currently work for Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN as a neurology resident and a neuroscientist. I became a Neurology Physician, Neuroscientist, and a Health Advocate through the University of Kentucky.

How Did I Get Started

Saying I love science is an understatement! If science was a person I would marry them in a heartbeat! I was always a phenomenal science student growing up and I just knew I had to make this my life. When I went to college, I assumed that if you love science, you major into a scientific discipline. That’s how I majored in biology, and I was able to study genetics, cell biology, and neuroscience. Overall, I fell in love with all of the opportunities that University of Kentucky had to offer me. One day my professor approached me and told me “You ask a lot of phenomenal questions. Have you thought about grad school?” Until this point, I never had thought about graduate school and this interaction lead me to a new opportunity.

The Opportunities

I had many opportunities during my college years. I was able to work in different research labs like Conductive Research at the University of Kentucky. Then I went to Stanford for one summer and worked in the Development Biology. I got an offer to study abroad in France, Spain, and London to do research in Neuroimmunology, and I fell in love with research. When exploring all of these opportunities I came to a crossroads in my life. “I love research and I love medicine. What am I going to do?” Then someone told me that I don’t have to decide on just one topic, that I can do both! I decided to stay at the University of Kentucky and enroll in the M.D./Ph.D. program.

Why Neuroscience?

I chose Neuroscience because it was the hardest class in medical school. It kicked me in the behind, but I just loved thinking about the brain. There were just many mysteries and puzzles that I was fascinated regarding the brain. I knew I had to make my research project about neuroscience. I came back to medical school and decided, “You know what? I love neuroscience, and I have a Ph.D. in neuroscience. I’m going to be a neurologist!” This is how it all came together.

Personals Goals

“I think there’s more to racial differences and diseases than genetics because we live in a society where racism unfortunately exists, so I study how racism and the stress of being oppressed affect our health. It can lead people of color to be more prone to stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc. I want to continue learning about this and start understanding how I can better my work.”

Last Updated: 7/13/21