Episode 29: Dr. Taiwo Durowade
Rachel Kobus 0:10
Welcome to Redbird buzz. I'm Rachel Kobus from alumni engagement 2009 ISU alum Dr. Taiwo Durowade passion is transforming the lives of the women she serves. After attending ISU, she went on to receive her medical degree in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Durowade took a unique path and focuses solely on gynecology to help women feel confident increase their quality of life through education and medical practice. So much so that she goes beyond her teaching with her patients at her clinic with the launching of her multi platform social media health awareness campaign, where she covers a multitude of topics that many may find hard to discuss in public. This episode is also an extra to her interview in the summer 2023, Illinois State magazine found online at Illinois state.edu/magazine.
We are so happy to have Dr. Taiwo Durowade with us. So Dr. Durowade what's the word Redbird? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Taiwo Durowade 1:09
Thank you so much, Rachel, for having me on your podcast. It's an honor. I'm really excited. So I am like you said Dr. Taiwo Durowade. Thank you for saying that correctly. Yes to practice.
Rachel Kobus 1:22
I watched a lot of your YouTube videos too, because I'm here to talk about.
Taiwo Durowade 1:26
Excellent, excellent. That's a great way to know how to say my name. I'm an OB GYN. So obstetrician gynecologist, I trained as an obstetrician gynecologist, but in the last year and a half, I've turned my focus specifically on gynecology. Actually, when I was in medical school, I was asking them Oh, can I just do a residency in gynecology? Do I really have to do obstetrics? No, like no doesn't exist? So OB and GYN are together? Yeah. But once I found my opportunity to step out of OB, I took it. Let me clarify because some people might not know what OB was gonna be one of my questions, too. Yep. OB is pregnancy, postpartum deliveries, C sections, just, you know, anything that has to do with a pregnant woman and deliver her baby and take care of her postpartum. Okay. Now, while that is fulfilling i i Not to be, well, I got feedback that I'm a great obstetrician, my patients loved the kind of care that they got the attention. That part of it, I think, was the most taxing for me, because I, you know, I'm thinking about them and worrying about them. And I'm like, pacing, so I was just, too, it took a lot out of me. And I was like, I don't know if I can do this for 20 30 40 years the way everybody else is doing. Yeah, so I was like, I love surgery. I love taking care of women, you know, gynecology is more easy paced, we come to the office and discuss and make a plan. We do surgery, I do procedures. So just the kind of life I wanted. Yeah. But it was hard to find a place where they would just hire you to do that. Everybody wants you to do the OB part. So I was like, Well, I better create what I want. If the if I if I say this is the type of life I want, I have to create it, nobody's gonna suddenly have it stick waiting for me to grab. And so that's how I started my own practice in January of 2022. Called Dadur gynecology. So Dadur gynecology. So that's a little snippet about me, I'm sort of a I see what my life should look like. And I do my best to try to get there.
Rachel Kobus 3:46
And what a great thing to live by everything you just said there like nothing is going to come to you unless you figure out what's important to you and how to manage it. Especially I think, you know, we're going to talk a lot about for me, like women power fit, you know, women health, but really, as a woman to like that balance and figuring out how to keep the emotion, the mental, the physical, and you as a gynecologist probably have to deal with that every day too. So you to understand that I think I think it's fantastic to figure that out right away. I mean, you practice what you needed to you have the expertise, but to really be an advocate for women is now I feel like part of your expertise. And there's some more to that we're gonna get into. So for our listeners, Dr. Durowade is part of the Illinois State magazine that came out this summer. So we hope that you can find an issue either online or in your mailbox and read more about her. So she was in that and she talks about her own, you know, setting her unique path, but you know, that started at Illinois State-- Well, I think even beforehand, so could you give us a little snippet again, hoping people will read the article and learn a lot more about your path, but could you give us how you got on that unique path and You know, a little bit of how ISU may be impacted that.
Taiwo Durowade 5:04
Oh, absolutely. And I love just to piggyback on the point you made ahead, prior to this question, being self aware, knowing what knowing what works for you, and then sticking to it. And not trying to do everything. Yes. You know, it's a big deal. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn that early and you know, I'm not in my 60s not trying to do that. That was a great point you made there. So um, I came to ISU I was probably like, 16 or 17. I was so young. Really young, back when
Rachel Kobus 5:43
we graduated the same year in case you're wondering, so do not say you are--yep 2009!
Taiwo Durowade 5:54
So I came to ISU and the first person I met actually, before I got to ICU, there had been this mentorship program that they've been talking about. And they asked if I wanted to be a part of it. I wasn't, I'm not sure how they chose people for it. I don't know if it was based on ACT scores, right? I actually don't even remember what I scored. But, um, I said, Sure. I didn't even know the importance of mentorship then. Now mentorship is like, the biggest thing in my head, like everybody needs a coach get a coach for everything in life. But even as a teenager, I'm sort of like, sure, I mean, I don't know anybody there, I might as well go get all the help I need. And so the mentor happened to be Dr. Zapora, she was a she is a professor of chemistry. And she would meet with me and like three other people that were part of the program every week while we were at ISU, and just try to give us support. And one of the things she did that I'll never ever forget, is that she took the school curriculum. And based on my major we, she wrote on every class together, she taught, we reviewed the catalog and came up with every class that I would need to graduate. That way, when it was time to register for classes, every semester I had to list I would just go in and pick them. And then I would have the 12 credit and I never did like extra credit, like I was never overwhelmed because I wasn't taking stuff that I didn't need to be taking. I was it was so, so smooth for me. And the classes. You know, I had a lot of support with the classes. When I was struggling with one of the biology classes, I went to her and I said, you know, I'm doing everything right for this class I'm studying. But when I get to the exam, it's not. They're not correlating. And she was like, you know, go ask the professor, what she wants you to study. Because you might think you're studying the textbook is studying the text notes. But there might be actually something she wanted she wants you to focus on. So I went to the professor and she said on the back of your textbook, there are questions there. That's what I want you to study. I was like
okay, no, but that sort of that sort of mentorship, that sort of guidance, because she's a professor, she thinks like a professor, she was thinking like my biology professor. And I don't know what other students did in there. But that was what made the difference for me and turn, you know, the exams around for me, in the end, just my understanding of what was going on in the class, you know, so I cannot overstate the importance of having a mentor at the university that you can go to and say, I'm struggling with this interaction. I'm struggling with this class, and they can guide you into how to make a mentor how to change that scenario around. And so that was the only class I got a B in. Because, you know, but I was like, it still irks me, I wish. But I thought that that was one of the things that really set me on the path for success. I didn't have to take any summer classes. I didn't have to take any additional courses. When it was time when I was thinking of medical school. She advised me to go look at all the medical schools I wanted to apply to and look at their prerequisites. And see which of those prerequisites I do not have. Because then by senior year, I had like open open slots in my in my schedule, because I had completed all my courses for graduation. Because I was so well, because I was so well guided you know. And so she was like go fill those spots with all those classes that are not needed for your major, but I needed from med school. And so that was what I did. And like I said, I didn't have to do any extra things. So I spent my summer doing an MCAT prep class and studying for the MCAT all summer of junior year. And so by the time senior year came around, I think I had already passed the MCAT by then because by the time I was graduating, I'd already gotten like admission into the school. So it just literally put me like, why you don't have to work so hard. You know, things don't have to be so difficult. If you are guided by somebody who knows the way A, you know, and so a lot of my colleagues or my friends then who would be like, so how did you know when to apply? Because people are applying to med school after they've graduated. And so there's a year that they I'm like, and they're asking me, how did you go direct? I'm like, Well, I don't know, I just, I just did what I was told. I'm extra smart or whatever. But I just did kind of what I was told I was guided. Yeah, yeah. And so that's how I got into medical school. And then, you know, medical school had its own mentors and its own challenges. But I'm grateful even in medical school, and I was struggling with which specialty like, oh, there's family medicine, there's, you know, pediatrics, there's all this. And I was interested in OB GYN, but I went, but I didn't really like OB. Yeah, then I knew. I don't see myself doing this. Yes, I have to do because I'm, you know, I love taking care of patients. That's why you want to be a doctor. Yeah. So I went to one of the OB GYN 's, and I said, you know, I want to do the specialty. But I don't think I'm, I'm thriving on in this part of it. And he said, you know, as a resident, you just have to deal with that. As a resident, when you are an attending, you can choose not to be on labor and delivery, you can choose which direction you want your practice to go. You can choose if you want to do a beat or just going to college, I was like, Okay, I just have to suffer for four years. And so that's, you know, that guidance also helped me not to choose a different specialty, because then I was like, Okay, I have the option to choose which direction I want my life to go. When I have the autonomy. I just have to get through these next four years of training. And so I think having a mentor being guided asking the right people asking the right questions, will help you have a smoother path in life. That's, that's my little spiel. And I
Rachel Kobus 11:53
love it. And it leads me into what I also want to talk about too is like you said, I you know, we talked about you drop the OB and became just the GYN, the gynecologist part. But that also means you had to become an entrepreneur and a business owner. I know. So you have a full practice for women, and everything, like all stages of women's lives and work towards that. So share about how you came to be in your business, your practice, I should say, and what that importance was to you to make sure that you could launch something like that, because it's just been a few years, five years now.
Taiwo Durowade 12:31
Oh, actually, my I've been independent meaning I've been, you know, certified to practice on my own for five years. Okay. Yes. My practice is a year here. Okay. Yes. Okay. Yeah, I
Rachel Kobus 12:45
think YouTube later is a year or two. So a lot of new stuff for you.
Taiwo Durowade 12:50
I know. So I would. That's a great question. How did I come so like I said, I knew that when you first get out of training or residency, you have to do both OB and GYN to get your board certification. So I knew that I had to work OB for two years because even even as I was graduating residents, I was looking for gynecology, only jobs. And just to clarify, gynecology is everything women's health, except pregnancy and postpartum. So I was looking for jobs that practices that only did gynecology and no OB, because if you join an OB and GYN practice, they would want you to be able to provide coverage for OB. So if you're not able to provide that, then there's no reason for them to hire you. Yeah. So that was graduating, I was looking at the places I found kept asking me well, how are you going to pass your boards? Where are you going to get OB experience from to take the board and I was like, Oh, that means I have to spend another two years doing OB before I can be on my own. Okay. So I was working in private practice. I had a lot of older people that older doctors there some more experienced doctors there. And I just did not see myself in them. I don't see myself in my 50s doing this. I was just so sure. Yeah, I mean, they are fantastic people I still call them to this day to ask for advice when I have a difficult case. But that what I saw was not who I wanted to be. And so I had been looking even while I was employed I was looking for Okay, after my two years was the gynecology only path that can go I found one but it was in Peoria and I didn't want to leave my family. I didn't want to leave the Chicagoland area. It was a thought that came to me they said if you if you really want what you want, you have to create it. Yeah. And so I was like, I had always said I don't need to be an entrepreneur. Doctors safe. Doctors prestigious. Doctor is you all Always have a job. The expertise is like lifelong blah, blah. And so the fact that after search, I probably searched for the whole three years that I was working, I could not find anything in my community in my area. That would give me the life I wanted. I finally decided, okay, I'll listen. And I looked into starting my own practice. Okay. And it was so interesting, because before, you know, I'm always asking people questions before I do anything. So I was talking to a business mentor, about how to make a business plan, and how to create a financial plan. financial projections, when we got to the financial projections for the business metrics really didn't know much about medicine. So I had to go find somebody who knew about medicine. And then I went to the bank, and the bank really liked my business plan and said, okay, and I was like, Wait, that's it? I mean, it was a lot of work. Yeah, it was a lot of work kind of coming up with a business plan, like, Why do I want to do this instead of OBGYN? Why should I, you know, and so I had to really think about why I wanted to do it. And I and I came up. And I really thought, you know, a lot of people kind of focus on the baby, I want to focus on the woman, I want the woman to thrive, I want the woman to be healthy, I want the woman to be her best self in every stage of life she's in. Now, there were the question that came on. So what if your patient gets pregnant? What are you going to do, I'm like, Well, I have trusted colleagues in the area that I can refer to. And after she's delivered, and every you know, the baby's doing well, she can come back to me and I would focus on just her. So my attention is not divided. My attention is not my attention is specifically on the woman. And you know, I would say that's the same for most OBGYN, but I think for gynecologist, it's very focused. It's very focused on not just, you know, the pregnancy and stuff is very focused on your overall woman health. Yeah. So I was able to get that point across and get the support, I needed to start. And we have an amazing, amazing team amazing space, everybody loves the space when they come, I don't know, it's like, they're not expecting it to be that good. And then I'm like, wow, I didn't actually like, like, I don't do anything small. Okay, I don't do anything mediocre. should have expected it. But um, that's how I ended up starting my own practice. And, you know, the, the biggest challenge with starting something new is letting people know that you're now doing something new. And just letting people know that I have this new service that I'm offering. And so that's the part that has consumed much of my time now is gaining visibility, you know, and letting people know how I'm different from everybody else, and why they should choose me. So that's the new path of Chartered. Well,
Rachel Kobus 18:05
and you know, with that, too, I think the the next thing I wanted to lead into is you kind of hit like all points of life is what you are of a woman's life is what you touch on. And so with that I I'm assuming you found, I mean, just being a woman myself, and knowing Wow, there's a lot of issues, I wouldn't know I had until as I went to, you know, my I go to OB GYN, obviously, it's not a lot of just gynecologist, so it's very unique and interesting. But you also had to find that out and become the educator then too. And I know, knowing your story, and what I've gotten to read know about you, you've become the educator for women. So I, I've now labeled you to physicians educator. So you do that, you know, you're led into this educational world of making sure you know, especially women that are, are nervous or apprehensive of talking about issues because some of them have become so taboo, I think, in our culture, compared to some other cultures. So I wanted to talk I think now about you've launched a lot of social media platforms and become the educator for women, especially with your YouTube channel is uncommon knowledge. And if you can tell me this, why did you decide or to use these social platforms of all things to fill that void for women's health? What What got you into that as your next step, as you launched already a clinic become this new business, then you became the educator on top of it, too?
Taiwo Durowade 19:32
Yeah, that's a great question. I found that I was. And one of the things that I would say set me apart from my colleagues or whoever else was practicing when I was practicing at the time was that I spent a lot of time teaching my patients. I feel like they come with preconceived notions of what their conditions are, or what certain treatments are. And then I would sit there I would draw them pictures. I would say, Look, this is what the uterus looks like. And this is what we're trying to do. This is what But you're just how your period happened. And so I'm spending a lot of time teaching my patients in the office. And I'm like, you know, there's a lot of things that I think is common. That should be common knowledge that a lot of people just don't know. Yeah. And there's all this information online. Everybody is everybody's an expert now. No, no, there's, there was misinformation. There's miss. And then I'm looking at some of the things my patients are looking at. I'm like, where did you get that information? Oh, somebody on Tik Tok sent this, somebody, I'm just like, okay, okay, that's not true. So, I was like, you know, one of the ways that I can actually be of service, not just to my patients, but to women in general, is to be a voice amongst all these other voices that are out there and use my credentials to be the actual expert, right? I'm board certified. I'm an actual OBGYN. I'm an actual gynecologist. This is my actual field of expertise. And this is how things happen. And if you break it down in language that people can understand, then, you know, they come to their doctor more informed. They ask better questions, when they go to the physician they are, they can also advocate for themselves. Maybe there was a treatment that a doctor was not offering that I talked about it, but like, Oh, what about this, I heard this job to talk about it on social media versus I heard this influenza, talk about social media, you know, so just a way for women to be better advocates for themselves, understand their bodies a bit better. Know what their options are, you know, your doctor might not be able to, you know, review all 10 options with you. But if you have a trusted source on your social media, that you spend half your day, because you know, everybody's on their phones Exactly. Then you know, you're getting, you're getting good, accurate information. And you're going to your doctor and saying I heard this is an option. I heard this is an option. Do you think it's an option for me? And so that's where that kind of came from? I do a lot of teaching every day. And I'm like, instead of it just be one woman at a time. Have it be a lot of women at a time. Yeah, you know,
Rachel Kobus 22:03
yeah, well, especially if you said, we're, we're on social media all the time. So you were you were, again, smart. Keep it You keep saying like, I'm not, I may not be the smartest, but I think you are becoming the smartest. And I know there's other physicians, and then there's other medical practitioners that are on social media, but it is the right place to go because so many people were on our phones more than reading not that scholarly journals and pieces and whatnot aren't important they are and they're researched. And they're promoted in those sense. But social media is where people are trying to find their news and information. So have the experts on there to find you found your audience just like you found your audience in your clinic, finding your audience on online to so so with your so you have a YouTube, so I'm trying to do a little promotion here. So you got a YouTube channel it's uncommon knowledge. So what what other platforms are you on, though? How are you managing all?
Taiwo Durowade 22:55
I know, great question. When I was trying to do all that by myself, oh my gosh, I was like, This is why I did not want to be on our draft radar. So I hired a virtual assistant. So there's somebody who's a social media manager, I like we discussed content and say I want to talk about, you know, endometriosis? And then you know, I give her articles about endometriosis. I've met with her and I talked about what endometriosis is. So I teach her. And then she creates the content. And then I approve disapprove and say, you know, that's not true. What did you find this information, that's not true. And then I give her more resources or use this to clarify our position. And or she brings up a treatment I've never heard of, I'm like, I don't even offer that treatment in my office. So I'm not gonna try to talk about that. Yeah. And so that has made a big difference for me to be able to manage all that. So I'm on Facebook, I'm on Instagram. I'm on LinkedIn, I'm on Tik Tok, and YouTube, so five social media platforms, because I found that my younger generation isn't even on Instagram anymore. I thought Instagram was the, you know, popular one. Tick tock
Rachel Kobus 24:05
is a marketing person. Gotta keep up. Gotta keep up. Come on, keep going.
Taiwo Durowade 24:14
Yeah, and so thank God, I have somebody to focus on that. Because trying to, you know, be the best physician in the clinic, trying to figure out the business part. And then I have to manage, I'd be a content creator as well. I was like, this is, you know, so I have to leverage my team, and this is the topic, create the content. I want this stuff on, you know, social media for the next three months, and then we, you know, so we create a calendar, and we try to fill it up and they'll come and say, Doctor, we need a video on this. So I'll do my best to create a video and then we'll get and then then we'll get it out. So it's been and you know, when I started the business, and I was like, Okay, how do you run a business? Well, I found a coach. I have a business coach.
Rachel Kobus 25:00
All, mentor, coach, why not?
Taiwo Durowade 25:03
Yeah, I just feel like asked the person who knows the way the one who's done it and succeeded. Why struggle when someone knows the way? Yeah, exactly. That's a, that's a, what's the word, that's the stuff I live by or something. And then he has a word for that. So. So that's what is actually. So when I look smart, it's because somebody tell him what to do. He's really
Rachel Kobus 25:24
good resources, everyone, use your resources, use your mentors. That's what they're there for you and your coaches, I love it. With your YouTube channel, you do both long and short on it. And I, again, was watching a few of them. And so I think I saw it's been a year, you've been on your YouTube channel now, too. So what's been the most rewarding part in all social platforms, right, what's been the most rewarding thing you've seen now being, you know, starting to become using your team becoming content creators and advocates for women and their health.
Taiwo Durowade 25:57
The most rewarding is getting patients their results. And so the when people come when people are online, you know, complaining that they don't, there was no treatment for this, they went to their doctor, and their doctor didn't know about this, and, and me being able to be like, Hey, by the way, there's this new treatment. And that's one of the advantages of being an entrepreneur, right is you can, you can explore what's out there, what's available, you're not stuck by the cracker practices of what the practice you're in is doing. This is how we practice, this is what we do. And you're just bound by that, you know, you can explore and say I want to this is working in Tennessee, you know, nobody in Illinois is doing this. But I've got to tell us the I met with a doctor, I see the results he's getting for his patients, I'm gonna bring that to my, to my practice and offer that to my patients. And one of that is this therapy called Laser vaginal laser rejuvenation. It's one of my favorite things to talk about it to do now, because the results are so dramatic. I mean, I have patients who had like leaking with urine, so they had a baby, the pelvic floor is weak, not every time they sneeze or a cough, they leak urine, and it's so embarrassing. And then this laser treatment, they have one or two treatments, and suddenly they don't leak urine anymore. And so the fact that they've gone to their own gynecologist, their own gynecologist, you know, tried her best with the resources she has bound by the practice she's in. But the results are not to the level that would affect the patient's quality of life. And here I come with this revolutionary laser treatment, and she gets her life back. Yeah, you know. So that's been the most rewarding part is being able to transform these women's lives, things that their regular primary care doctor may not be able to offer or may not even know is available. You know, I have my social media platform to be able to advertise and say, I got this, it's working, coming, let me help you. And then they come and they get the results. The other one is urinary urgency. How does this patient if she has the urge to pee, or she thinks about urinating, if she doesn't go to the bathroom, she'll be on herself? You know, she'd be in the middle of a conversation with somebody and have to rush to the bathroom. You know, like people would not begin to know that, oh, she has to pee. I mean, how and this in her office at church, just like this is disruptive to my life. I was like, couldn't imagine. Yeah. And she's been to doctors. So this is not somebody who's just dealing with this by herself. She's been to doctors. They've tried what they can. And I'm like, Okay, let's do it. Let's do this laser stuff. She gets two treatments of the laser. And she's like, I don't even think I need a third one. Because it's three treatments. She's like, you've given me my life back, you know, I feel normal again. So that kind of feedback like, gosh, gets me going gets me. You know me. So I'm telling all my social media people look, all these results need to be on social media. So women out there who are struggling with this will feel like doctors can't help them who feel like they don't have options need to know that there are options available to them. And so I think that's the most rewarding part getting women results. Yeah.
Rachel Kobus 29:13
And I like you say to its doctors, expert, doctors, supporting doctors, experts, supporting experts. I know that you've been on other podcasts for just specifically medical discussions and having people talk to you as well too. And just having that crossover of expertise and being able to show women's support that way too, I think is very impressive. So
Taiwo Durowade 29:33
absolutely, because there are some things I don't know like there's some parts of you know, women's health, I may not delve into like the I talked to the psychiatrist about Russia. Because for OBGYN and there's postpartum depression, we refer to a psychiatrist referred to a therapist. I can treat to a level with medication. What if the patient doesn't want medication, then who's the right person? So talking with a psychiatrist who deals with women was part of so that information is on my platform. They You know that I have that access, if they come to me is really, really important as well.
Rachel Kobus 30:05
Yeah. Great. So I think you kind of touched this a little bit. But how do you decide you use a social media manager? But how do you work with that team or that person to figure out the topics you're going to cover? Or the techniques you're gonna use? Or trying to make it just engaging? Because it's hard to grab people's attention? So how do you work through that as a medical expert?
Taiwo Durowade 30:26
Oh, that's a great question. That's why you hire people who know more than you. All right. So I'm just like, I need someone whose expertise is social media. And then I'm like, this is the topic or this is what I want to talk or they come to me and say, this is trending on social media make content about this. And so basically, I'm using my job is to make sure whatever they're putting out is accurate is medically factual. They're representing my, my brand appropriately. They're not using any language or anything that would affect my brand or my reputation. But they're the experts. And so they're coming to me and saying, This is what's trending. This topic is something you treat in your office, you know, people are talking about PCOS, what do you think? And then I'm like, oh, yeah, of course, I've had, I have 20 conversations a day about PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome. And so I would teach my social media assistant, I would say, This is what PCOS is, this is you know, and then she'll go find information, create the content, and then I'll review the content and say, Okay, it's accurate, you put it out. So I rely on other people's expertise. I leverage other people. And this is, this is part of what the business coaching teaches you is you don't have to know everything. You know what, you know, you are a doctor, you are organic. Even in the doctor world, you have one focus. That's so yeah, you're very narrowed focus, stay in your lane of expertise, and then leverage other people's expertise to maximize your your impact.
Rachel Kobus 31:56
Yes. Great. So you're moving forward in the future, as we get close to our time together, you know, obvious your practice is for women, everything is about women health, what you do, but for me, this selfishly, I think it's also just as important for whoever it is, whoever your support system is, should understand. I mean, basically men, but anyone, children, partners, whoever that may not be going through specific issues. So how do you see yourself in the future helping women support systems understand medical issues?
Taiwo Durowade 32:31
Oh, excellent question. So what I've found, what I found helpful is webinars No, yep. So I did a webinar in March. And I tried to make it as clear as possible that is not just for women, it's for your family members as well. That way, when something's up with you, they have a better understanding of why it's happening. And they can better support you. And they don't think because one of the issues is as women get into menopause, they start losing estrogen. One of the most common symptoms they come to me with is my family says that I'm irritable, like, I get angry all the time. I'm short with them. My husband is complaining, my children don't want to be around me. Everybody thinks I'm angry or mad. And they don't get it. Because I don't know why I feel this way. And then I'm able to reassurance Oh, my gosh, it's because you're losing your estrogen. You know, it's because you're, it's okay. It's It's not you, yeah, you it's your body, your ovaries. And then we talk about what treatment options are available for that. And so doing, I'm trying to make them monthly. It's just a lot of commitment. It's sometimes I'll tell them to bring their partner to the appointment, okay, your partner come to the appointment with you. And I use that opportunity to teach both of them. Or I would I have a text message in my office. And I would say, oh, send this video to this patient. And then she can share the video with her partner or her children or her daughters or whatever. And so I really do think that it's a great, great question you have, the support system needs to know about women's health as well, so that they don't think the woman is going out of her mind. They understand the medical condition, and it can provide support, like, and then I give them it might be hormone therapy, I give them it might be, you know, not hormone therapy, I give them but my goal is results. My goal is to transform your life. I want you to come to me and then leave, you know better than when you came, you know, and that's kind of why I keep exploring ways to help women. Because when I first started and I was still bound by my old how we used to practice I would be like man, I have nothing to offer this lady and I will feel defeated. And I'd be like, so what's the point of being a doctor like I can't fix but you know, and then I try I refined and then I researched what are other doctors doing? What are what is out there and other states. You know, I asked my colleagues in the area, have you heard of this condition and what are people doing? And then I go get trained in it. And then now I can have something to offer this lady. You know, though, actually, the reason I got the laser, the reason I got the hormones was because of actual patients. I couldn't help. And so once I got out like, look, look, I got something for you. And me come back. I love the results I'm getting I love the transformation that's happening in people's.
Rachel Kobus 35:31
Yeah, great. And so I get that's a great, you know, for me, and my last question is transforming lives. What's next when it comes to you being the physician's educator and using these platforms and using your you know, your advocacy? What what do you see is next in the you know, you're doing this for five years so far, what's coming up? Oh,
Taiwo Durowade 35:54
my God. I have big dreams. I don't know if he would say them out loud.
Rachel Kobus 35:59
Okay, I don't think so. No, no, not even
Taiwo Durowade 36:03
more like, you know, you stay and it's really gonna happen. Oh, okay. Holding it in the atmosphere. okay to do that. So, I'm thinking that I would, I would like to add doctors to my group. A lot of people still call me asking for OB obstetric services, a lot of people say, you know, she took care of me with my first baby, you know, I'm pregnant again, I really want her to be my doctor. And then so I'm looking for someone who loves OB, just as much as I love gynecology and who will provide that service to my patients. So my five year plan is to be a medical group, instead of just being general gynecology, is to be that a medical group? Okay, so have somebody who does OB have somebody who who's a PCP family doctor. That way that person delivers the baby's the baby go to the family doctor, and I take the woman? Yeah, that's great.
Rachel Kobus 36:57
Yeah, no, I love it. And how great just to keep it I mean, and I hope I, I am giving good vibes and good thoughts. What happens next? Because Because everything else you've done. I mean, this is great. A great conversation, Dr. Durowade. like everything from the education from Women's Health from this unique focus. It's been amazing talking to you. So I can't wait to see what is next for you. And I hope we get to hear from you soon and post all the good things that you're doing as an ISU Redbird. So Oh, nice. Nice. So thank you again, very, very much. Appreciate it. And we again like I said, Hope to hear from you soon.
Taiwo Durowade 37:34
Awesome. Thank you so much, Rachel.
Rachel Kobus 37:45
That was 2009 biochemistry molecular biology major Dr. Taiwo Durowade. A tune in next time to Redbird Buzz for more stories from beyond the quad
Transcribed by https://otter.ai