The power of determination: From housekeeper to a Neurosurgeon – The story of Kwadwo Sarpong

The power of determination: From housekeeper to a Neurosurgeon – The story of Kwadwo Sarpong

He left his studies at the University of Ghana to the United States when he won the US Visa Lottery.

It was difficult to start school and continue with his education when he went to the States, so he worked as a cashier at Walmart for a year and later got a job as a housekeeper in a hospital.

Kwadwo Sarpong met Dr. Robert Fritz a General Thoracic Surgeon at Gwinnet Medical Center (now Northside Gwinnet Hospital) who changed his life for good.

Dr. Fritz made him an offer of working with him, shadowing and learning from him.

He advised Kwadwo to quit the cashier job so he can have enough time as well as access to the hospital so he learns from him.

That started Kwadwo’s journey to becoming a neurosurgeon. He started from a community college to Emory University in Atlanta, then he continued at Georgetown Experimental Medical studies in Washington D.C.

He has since completed and will in the next 7 years be working to perfect his neurosurgery practice at Vanderbilt.

It has been a journey of Kwadwo relying on scholarships, financial aid from various individuals, and student loans.

Kwadwo has picked many awards including the Clinton Global Initiative Honor Roll recognition in 2017.

He also won Emory University 40 under 40 recognition and a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteerism.

CREDIT: UGC/Charles_Aryitey