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A young Ghanaian lady, Ms. Nancy Abu-Bonsrah, has made history as the first black female to study Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the Department of Neurosurgery.

She will be the first black female neurosurgeon trained in the school’s 124 years of existence.

Abu-Bonsrah will spend seven more years at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she would get hands-on experience in her field.

How she made it

In a medical rite in the U.S. known as ‘Match Day’, 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.

On Friday, March 17, 2017, when Ms. Nancy Abu-Bonsrah opened her envelope, she matched with the Johns Hopkins University to specialise in neurological surgery making her the first black female neurosurgeon at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

 There has been an outpour of congratulations from social media.  

Selection process

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.

15 years in Ghana

Abu-Bonsrah, according the John Hopkins medical news release, spent the first 15 years of her life in Ghana and came to Maryland 11 years ago. 

Education background

She attended Hammond High School in Columbia, Maryland and went to college at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, after which, right after her undergrad, she went to Johns Hopkins.

Abu-Bonsrah’s future ambitions

Abu-Bonsrah further stated in the news release that she is very much interested in providing medical care in undeserved settings, specifically surgical care. 

The Ghanaian hopes to return to her country over the course of her career to help in building sustainable surgical infrastructure.

Dream come true

Her match to Johns Hopkins Hospital for neurological surgery is a dream come true for her. 

She says she wants to be remembered for serving her community either through providing quality surgical care or mentoring the next generation of surgeons.

Abu-Bonsrah attended Johns Hopkins University school of Medicine alongside her husband, and participated in the Match Day, which took place on the 17th of March. 

Her parents 

She is originally from Ghana and is the daughter of Seth Abu-Bonsrah and Georgina Abu-Bonsrah.

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. 

Kwabena and I are excited for what’s ahead! #match2017 #glorytoGod #wemadeit #sevenmoreyears #Neurosurgery #firstfemaleAAatHopkins