Team & Cohorts

The DOF Team
Committed To Making Real Change
Board Members

Dotun Ogunyemi - Founder/President - Board Director
Dotun Ogunyemi, MD is a physician with expertise and leadership roles in medical education, patient safety and quality improvement, and diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racist education. He obtained his MD degree from the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; completed a residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology (OBGYN) at King Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, and a Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship (MFM) at David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA. To facilitate the reduction of health disparities and improve healthcare workforce diversity, he is focused on developing pipeline programs for underrepresented and disadvantaged students to matriculate into healthcare professions and innovative workshops to create equitable fair work & learning environment, to improve resilience and wellbeing. He is a certified emotional intelligence coach and has published on the topic. He is a Christian and is involved in his local church.

Nathaniel Sugiyama - Vice President - Board Director
Dr. Nathaniel I. Sugiyama is currently an Anesthesiology resident at Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Nathaniel completed his bachelors of science at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and graduated from medical school at the University of Vermont. Prior to medical school, he co-founded a biotechnology company focused on developing an oxygen carrying biologic resuscitation drug for use in traumas and served as a business manager for a private medical practice in Los Angeles, CA. Nathaniel grew up in Los Angeles, CA and looks forward to giving back to the communities that contributed so much to his experience. Interests include patient safety, quality improvement, healthcare system innovation, biotechnology, population health and spending time outdoors and with loved ones.

Arthurine Zakama, M.D. - Director of National Pathway Program & Medical Student Support - Board Director
Dr. Arthurine K. Zakama is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her undergraduate education at Vanderbilt University, her medical degree at Duke University, and her OBGYN residency at UC-San Francisco. She is passionate about serving underserved populations locally and globally, health equity through the lens of reproductive justice, and mentorship with a focus on students underrepresented in medicine.

Sophia Barrett, PsyD - Board Director
Dr. Sophia Barrett earned her Bachelor’s of Arts (B.A.) in psychology and criminal justice from Siena College, a Master’s of Science (M.S.) in forensic mental health from The Sage College of Albany, and a Master’s of Art (M.A.) and a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in DC. As part of her graduate training, Dr. Barrett formal practica in clinical and forensic psychology, specifically in inpatient and outpatient settings in the Metropolitan area of DC. Her internship in inpatient acute care was completed at the Behavioral Wellness Center in Philadelphia. She completed her post-doctoral training in forensic psychology at Forum Ohio, a group private practice in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Barrett has experience in conducting a wide range of forensic assessments and therapeutic treatment to adult and adolescent populations, including cognitive behavioral, trauma-focused, personality and mood disorders. She has professional and research interests in area of the provisions of mental health services to the severely mentally ill in communities of color and in institutionalized settings, such as corrections and hospitalizations. Dr. Barrett is currently licensed in California, working in outpatient adult care and academia.

Amir Teixeira - Associate Director of Community Engagement & Student Support - Secretary - Board Director
Amir Teixeira is a 4th year medical student at the California University of Science and Medicine
in Colton, CA. He is from Compton, CA, is the youngest of 5 brothers, and is the first in his family to go to college. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Biology from UCLA and then continued on to get 2 Master’s degrees in Biomedical Science and Public Health with an emphasis in Urban Health Disparities from the Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA. He is an Inland Empire Health Plan Scholar, and an Area Health Education Center Health Equity scholar. He plans to specialize in Emergency Medicine to be an advocate for health equity in high acuity situations.

Clarence Sams - Treasurer - Board Director
Clarence Sams is a medical student at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and
Science—College of Medicine. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Sams is a University of
Maryland, Baltimore County alum with a bachelor's degree in biology. In 2022, Sams founded the SSE ME mentoring program geared towards matching high school and college students with experts in student's fields of interest. Sams is also the founder and president of the CDU MD Dermatology Interest Group. His academic research focuses on dermatological-related scar formations prevalent in minority skin types. As a Stanford University REACH HBMC scholar he now works with Stanford’s Dermatology Department on research into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is impacting the field of Dermatology, publishing in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Staff
Drew Richard, MS

Director of Community Engagement & Support
Fatimatou Saka, MS

Associate Director of Community Engagement & Supports
Muhammad Mukarram, MS

Associate Director of Student Assessments
Adebayo Awokoya, MS

Associate Director of Advising & Counseling

High School Cohort

Airee Claudia Lenna Mcadory
12th Grade
Melanie Sanchez

11th Grade
Eddie Ogunyemi
Downtown Business Magnet School
High School Graduation 2024
DOF Class Of 2nd Quarter, 2021


Christell Pelico
12th Grade
Neuroscience & Surgery

Carlos Simbala
Warren High School
High School Graduation 2024
DOF Class Of 4th Quarter, 2022

Ashley Davis
12th Grade
12th Grade
Kiera Danielle Wright


Estela Cristina Rosado
10th Grade
The DOF Foundation is dedicated to supporting and empowering students at every stage of their educational journey, from high school through medical school. With a primary focus in Los Angeles, we extend our resources nationwide to ensure that all students have access to the opportunities they need to succeed. Our mission is to recognize and uplift students for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to becoming compassionate physicians within their communities. Through scholarships, mentorship, and community-driven initiatives, we are proud to help shape the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Karisma Eunique Coleman
12th Grade


Christell Pelico
11th Grade
Olumide Ojo, MS

Premed Needs Assessment Evaluator
Hailey Egans, MS

Premed Needs Assessment Evaluator
Stephen Kamau, MS

Premed Needs Assessment Evaluator
Bria Mayes
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High School Program Coordinator
Events and Details of program:
Each student has been paired with a mentor and engage in monthly calls.
Orientation, Introduction of Mentors, & Emotional Intelligence Workshop on August 21st.
Mentoring & Enrichment workshop, with presentation on conflict resolution on September 25th
Check-in & Goal setting event on October 30th
Community Engagement in healthcare setting scheduled for November 2021
Ongoing Wellness checks of pathway students using perceived stress scale surveys, followed by implementation of stress reducing strategies.
Monthly check-ins take place by Pathway Coordinator
Setting of Individualized action plans.
Scholarship support planned.

The current cohorts comprises high-school students, community college students, and a post-bacc student.
High School and College Cohorts
Scholar's Name
Education
Madissyn
Adrian
Ashlee
Jalon
Christopher
Julius
Bryauna
James
Christmas
Williams
Gomez
Sims
Diai
Hernandez
Hill
Ehrlich-Bell
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King Drew Magnet High School
King Drew Magnet High School
King Drew Magnet High School
King Drew Magnet High School
King Drew Magnet High School
King Drew Magnet High School
King Drew Magnet High School
Palisades Charter High School

Bravo Medical Magnet School
High School Graduation 2023
DOF Class Of 3rd Quarter, 2021
Chris Ajanel

Izel Citali Vazquez
Bravo Medical Magnet School
High School Graduation 2024
DOF Class Of 2nd Quarter, 2022


Jazmin Moran
Emalee Campos-Mendez
Bravo Medical Magnet School
High School Graduation 2023
DOF Class Of 3rd Quarter, 2021
Bravo Medical Magnet School
High School Graduation 2026
DOF Class Of 2nd Quarter, 2022


Amelia Briones
Steven A Orantes-Rodriguez
Bravo Medical Magnet School
High School Graduation 2023
DOF Class Of 3rd Quarter, 2021
Bravo Medical Magnet School
High School Graduation 2024
DOF Class Of 2nd Quarter, 2022


Ashley Alva
Ivanna Gutierrez Casillas
Bravo Medical Magnet School
High School Graduation 2022
DOF Class Of 3rd Quarter, 2021
Bravo Medical Magnet School
DOF Class Of 2nd Quarter, 2022

I really appreciate DOF for all the clinical opportunities we get! I truly believe these opportunities are very hard to come by without the guidance and support of an organization like DOF. It has even motivated me to get more involved in taking the extra mile to increase my networking and reach at my university to get more opportunities like the one DOF provides!
Angela Ogbogu