A Mother And Daughter, Both Doctors, Share A Dedication To Serving Patients.
Nesochi Okeke-Igbokwe, MS, MD, was very goal-oriented as a girl, recalls her mother, Irene Okeke, AuD. “I can remember, one day, when we were in church when she was about 14, Nesochi turned to me and said, ‘Mommy, I am going to be a doctor.’
“I remember feeling, at that moment, that I knew she was going to make it. And I said back to her, ‘Nesochi, you are going to be a doctor.’”
And today, she is. After getting a master’s degree in Clinical Evaluative Sciences from Dartmouth College and a medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Nesochi (who uses her first name professionally) did a residency in internal medicine at New York-Presbyterian Queens. She’s currently in a private practice at Clara Maass Medical Center (CMMC). And her mother is nearby: Dr. Okeke, an audiologist, has a private practice in Maplewood and also a second private practice at CMMC.
“Both of us being doctors has united us and brought us closer, and not just professionally. It has really fortified the mother-daughter bond,” says Dr. Nesochi. “With any medical practice, there are bumps in the road, so it is very special when you have your mother to guide you. Having that support system telling you that everything will be okay makes a world of difference.”
Making An Impact
Both mother and daughter have used their medical skills to reach national and international audiences.
“Years ago, I realized I had to get out of the box and extend my services to less privileged people,” says Dr. Okeke. In 1998, she set up the Nigerian Army Audiological Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, which provides hearing health services to the military as well as hospitals, schools, and a number of other organizations. She also founded the International Hearing Center in Nigeria, which includes four locations. Dr. Okeke credits her daughter with helping her in these endeavors. “She has come with me on many of my travels,” she says.
Meanwhile, Dr. Nesochi has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, Glamour, and other magazines, and has also been a health resource for CNN, CBS News, Fox News, and the BBC. Her goal, she says, is to correct misinformation about health trends and encourage a measured and thoughtful approach to personal health.
That’s also the goal for her private practice. “I always want to motivate my patients to make their health a priority,” says Dr. Nesochi. “I have a lot of patients who have failed to go to their doctors for routine screenings and examinations.
“Sometimes I reach out personally to let them know they are past due for certain tests. If there’s a cholesterol problem, we take time to figure out a strategy to bring down the numbers. I will create an individualized plan to bring down their weight if needed. I believe in talking with my patients holistically to make their overall health better.”
For a referral to a Clara Maass Medical Center physician, call 888.724.7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/claramaass.