We are accepting nominations for the 2023 Chasidy Singleton Outstanding Aspiring Ophthalmologist Award. Nominations and letters of support are due Monday, April 3, 2023.
The Chasidy Singleton Outstanding Aspiring Ophthalmologist Award is intended to honor one medical student at Vanderbilt University or Meharry Medical College from a group underrepresented in medicine who is pursuing ophthalmology and demonstrates a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through clinical care, leadership, mentoring, community outreach/engagement, and/or research.
The student should show promise in continuing the legacy of service and the commitment to health equity for the underserved that Dr. Singleton has exemplified through her years of service to our community and our profession.
Nominations for the CSOAOA can be submitted through REDCap. Students can self-nominate or be nominated by faculty, mentors, or peers. Contact Medical Student Program Coordinator, Jennifer Roberts (Jennifer.M.Roberts@vumc.org) with any questions.
About Dr. Chasidy Singleton
Dr. Chasidy Singleton has a rich history at Vanderbilt University, having received both her undergraduate and medical degrees at our institution followed by her internship and ophthalmology residency at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute. From 2003-2019, she practiced comprehensive ophthalmology in Nashville, rising to Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Vanderbilt and at Meharry Medical College and to Chief of Ophthalmology at Nashville General Hospital. Dr. Singleton is a nationally recognized expert in and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in ophthalmology, being recognized by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) as an Unsung Hero as well as with a Special Recognition Award for her leadership in the Ophthalmology Section of the National Medical Association. She helped launch the AAO/AUPO Minority Ophthalmology Mentoring Program, where she remains an active mentor and role model for aspiring ophthalmologists across the nation. She currently practices with OCLI Vision in Port Jefferson, New York.
Recipients
2022
Oladipupo “Ladi” Anibire
Meharry Medical College School of Medicine Class of 2023.
Accepted to the University of Iowa 2023 PGY1 Ophthalmology Residency Class
It is with great pleasure that we share the news that Oladipupo “Ladi” Anibire (MS4, MMC) has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Chasidy Singleton Outstanding Aspiring Ophthalmologist Award. This award honors a medical student from a group underrepresented in medicine who is pursuing a career in ophthalmology and who demonstrates a commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through a combination of clinical care, leadership, mentoring, community outreach/engagement, and/or research. Oladipupo was nominated along several other well deserving peers (see photo below) who also impressed us with their achievements and devotion to improving the lives of others. They all show promise in continuing the legacy of patient care and the commitment to health equity for the underserved that Dr. Singleton has exemplified through her years of service to our community and our profession.
Oladipupo is currently a fourth year medical student at Meharry Medical College. He helps preside over Meharry’s Ophthalmology Interest Group and was elected by his peers to be president of his medical school class. He volunteers at the Salt Wagon Clinic where he provides care to some of the most medically vulnerable members of the community. In addition to his leadership and scholarly work, Oladipupo has a track record of giving back to his community as a mentor and role model to grade school students and as a volunteer during the heat of the COVID pandemic. He is a husband and a father and his compassion and humanity shine when he interacts with people around him. Ladi’s actions follow Dr. Chasidy Singleton’s inspiring path of service and dedication to our community and to ophthalmology. He is applying to ophthalmology residency this year and we anticipate he will enrich the field of ophthalmology as Chasidy continues to do.