Boluwatife Aluko, MD

Bolu was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and immigrated to North Carolina in the early 2000s, where she pursued both her undergraduate and graduate education. At the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC), she majored in biology before earning her medical degree at The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Following her time at UNC, Bolu dedicated several years to clinical research at academic institutions and Contract Research Organizations, facilitating drug trials between pharmaceutical companies and physicians.

Throughout medical school, Bolu actively engaged with her community in various capacities. In Kenansville, NC, she served as a community health ambassador for elementary school students,  coordinating annual health assessments and developing health curricula for the uninsured and underserved. Bolu's commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in medical education led her to mentor minority medical students through organizations such as Building Bridges To Medicine and the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). Within SNMA, she organized the annual pre-medical conference, relishing the opportunity to educate and guide aspiring medical students. Additionally, Bolu has remained steadfast in her dedication to supporting survivors of interpersonal violence and sexual assault, a commitment she has upheld since her undergraduate years and continued through medical school, earning recognition with the Tiana Nicole Williams Fellowship Award.

Beyond her medical pursuits, Bolu is a passionate advocate for social justice and equity. She cherishes time spent with her family and loved ones and nurturing new connections within her community. 

• Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
• Professional Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Mental Illness in Black and Immigrant Communities, Women’s Mood Disorders, Underserved Communities, Community Psychiatry, Trauma-Informed Care, Equity and Inclusion, Interventional Psychiatry, Psychotherapy
• Future Plans: Possible fellowship in Child, Forensics or Women’s Mood Disorders
• Memberships: APA, NMA
• Hobbies: Food, Modern Interactive Art, Exercise, Investment/Budgeting, Afrobeats Music Genre, Socio-political/pop-culture conversations, Game Nights

• MD, The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, 2024
• BS, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2016

Aluko B, Mitchell A, Tumin D, Zeldin E. (2022, Dec). Nation-wide decrease in the prevalence of pediatric chronic pain during the COVID-19 pandemic.