Meet Nancy Abu-Bonsrah: Johns Hopkins’ first black female neurosurgeon resident in its 128-year history

NANCY ABU-Bonsrah has made history by becoming the first black female neurosurgeon resident at Johns Hopkins Hospital in its 128-year history.

We start this week with heartwarming news, Ghanaian Nancy Abu-Bonsrah becomes the first black female Neurosurgeon at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Abu-Bonsrah left Ghana at the age of 15, and has been in the U.S for nearly 11 years. The first physician in her family, including the extended family, Abu-Bonsrah was matched with Johns Hopkins Hospital to specialize in Neurological Surgery. A hearty congratulations on the remarkable achievement.

In a medical rite in the U.S. known as Match Day, where graduating fourth year medical students are given envelopes and find out where they have been matched to continue their medical training in a three to seven year residency program, Ghanaian Nancy Abu-Bonsrah was matched with Johns Hopkins Hospital to specialize in neurological surgery.

The match made her the first black female neurosurgeon at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Abu-Bonsrah will spend seven more years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she would get hands-on experience in her field.

According to the Johns Hopkins news release, prior to Match Day, students complete lengthy paperwork, and on-site interviews with hospitals, then provide a ranked list of their top choices. Hospitals submit a similar list, indicating openings, preferred students, and specialty or generalist preferences. Each applicant is matched via computer algorithm to the hospital residency program that is highest on the applicant’s list, and has offered the applicant a position. Johns Hopkins students are often matched with their first- or second-choice sites.

Nancy, who is graduating from John Hopkins University and will go on to work in their neurosurgery department, received the news on Friday (March 17) which is known nationwide as “Match Day.”

“Match Day” is when medical students around the country find out at which hospitals they’ll practice their residency.

The 26-year-old, who is the first physician in her family, was raised in Ghana and left at the age of 15. She has lived in Maryland for the past 11 years.

“I am very much interested in providing medical care in underserved settings, specifically surgical care,” she said in a statement. “I hope to be able to go back to Ghana over the course of my career to help in building sustainable surgical infrastructure. I will be matching into neurosurgery, a field that I am greatly enamored with, and hope to utilize those skills in advancing global surgical care.”

Nancy, whose husband is also studying medicine at Johns Hopkins University, said she wants to “be remembered for serving my community, whether it is through providing quality surgical care or helping mentor the next generation of surgeonsl”.

She added: “Unique Thing: Everything is special about the match. It will be a dream come true.”

Nancy will continue her medical training in a three to seven-year residency program while at the hospital.

She is the first black female Neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins

In a Facebook post, Abu-Bonsrah said:

What a way to begin the Sabbath! I still haven’t processed it yet but this is such an honor and a privilege to join the department at Hopkins to begin this next phase of my career. I’m so fortunate to have the continued support of my husband, family, friends and mentors. Kwabenaand I are excited for what’s ahead! #match2017 #glorytoGod #wemadeit#sevenmoreyears#Neurosurgery #firstfemaleAAatHopkins

There has been an outpour of congratulations from social media. We wish Nancy Abu-Bonsrah all the best in her medical career.