Interview with Ima Mbodie Ebong, July 10, 2019

Partial Transcript: I'm Reneé Collins and we are here today at the UK Nunn Center for Oral History and we're going to interview Dr. Ima Ebong.

Segment Synopsis: Reneé Collins introduces Dr. Ima Ebong, a neurologist at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr. Ima Ebong shares details about the happiest moment of her life, the important people in her life, important lessons she has learned, and how Lexington, Kentucky has grown over time.

Keywords: Diversity; Doctors; Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.); Medical doctors; Neurologists; Neurology; Physicians; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Diversity; Health.; Kentucky.; Lexington (Ky.); Medicine.; Neurologists; University of Kentucky; University of Miami

Partial Transcript: I'm going to start off this part--this portion of the interview, and I'm going to rewind the tape back to your early days.

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Ebong is asked about her childhood in the Bahamas, specifically regarding her education, hobbies, and memories.

Keywords: Adolescence; Bahamas; Childhood; Diversity; Education

Subjects: Adolescence.; Childhood.; Diversity; Education.; The Bahamas

Partial Transcript: So what lessons do you feel like you learned during that time in athletics that you've been able to directly apply to the job that you do today?

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Ebong is asked about important lessons and memories from her childhood.

Keywords: Bahamas; Diversity; Education; Lessons; Medical; Teamwork

Subjects: Diversity; Education.; Medicine.; The Bahamas

Partial Transcript: So was your undergrad in engineering?

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Ebong describes her undergraduate educational career at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she earned her bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering.

Keywords: Bachelor's degrees; Biomedical engineering; Diversity; Education; Engineering; Georgia Institute of Technology; Inclusion; Medical; Medicine; Neurology; The Bahamas; Undergraduate

Subjects: Biomedical engineering.; Education.; Engineering.; Georgia Institute of Technology; Medicine.; Neurology.; Women in engineering and science; Women in higher education; Women--Education (Higher)

Partial Transcript: Describe your own personal understanding, or your definition of diversity and also why is it so important to you personally?

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Ebong is asked to describe her own personal definition of diversity and why diversity is so important to her. Additionally, she is asked why diversity is so important in medicine and how diversity is used in treating patients.

Keywords: Diversity; Education; Inclusion; Medical; Medicine

Subjects: African American physicians; Diversity; Education.; Medicine.

Partial Transcript: Where do you see examples of implicit, or what we call at UK unconscious biases, showing up in patient care.

Segment Synopsis: Collins asks Dr. Ebong about the unconscious bias in medicine, and Dr. Ebong shares stories of discrimination she has faced.

Keywords: Discrimination; Diversity; Medical; Medicine; Racism; Sexism; Unconscious bias

Subjects: Discrimination.; Diversity; Medicine.; Physician and patient.; Racism.; Sexism.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine; University of Kentucky. Medical Center

Partial Transcript: Let me ask you, what does it mean for you to be working for the UK College of Medicine and know that they have a commitment to diversity?

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Ebong is asked about the University of Kentucky College of Medicine's commitment to and demonstration of diversity.

Keywords: Diversity; Inclusion; University of Kentucky

Subjects: African American physicians; Diversity; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine; University of Kentucky. Medical Center; Women physicians.

Partial Transcript: How do you go about advocating for diversity and inclusion initiatives to someone who perhaps doesn't see the value?

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Ebong describes how she promotes diversity and inclusion initiatives. Dr. Ebong is asked about cultures she would like to learn more about, and how she would go about learning about those cultures.

Keywords: Cultures; Diversity; Education; Inclusion; Medical; Medicine

Subjects: Culture.; Diversity; Education.; Medicine.

Partial Transcript: I'd like to ask you next about how do you go about handling a situation where you witness or you hear someone make a racist, a sexist, or a homophobic remark?

Segment Synopsis: Collins asks Dr. Ebong about how she handles individuals who make discriminatory comments. Dr. Ebong shares her experiences of being discriminated against. Additionally, the relationship between diversity and excellence is discussed.

Keywords: Discrimination; Diversity; Equality; Medicine; Racism; Sexism; University of Kentucky

Subjects: African American physicians; Discrimination.; Diversity; Medicine.; Racism.; Sexism.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine; University of Kentucky. Medical Center; Women physicians.

Partial Transcript: What do people not know about you that you would like them to know, or feel they may be surprised to know if they knew it?

Segment Synopsis: Dr. Ebong shares interesting information about herself, including: a fun fact about her, items on her bucket list, and what she would hope people say at her 80th birthday party.

Keywords: Diversity; Inclusion; Kentucky; University of Kentucky

Subjects: African American physicians; Diversity; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky. College of Medicine; University of Kentucky. Medical Center