Black Excellence: Olayinka Stephen Fadowole

“I like to say that pharmacy enabled me to add value to people’s life. Think about the amount of lives that you will touch as a result of the knowledge and experience that you have, and you set your soul and let that be your compass. I wanted to be able to add value and impact people because I saw that my grandma would have appreciated that amount of value and impact before she passed.”
OLAYINKA STEPHEN FADOWOLE
Biography
Olayinka “Stephen” Fadowole is a pharmacist and health care professional with over a decade of experience in the retail pharmacy and health care industry. Currently, he develops inclusive recruitment strategies while leading patient and community outreach for the Walgreens Clinical Trials Business.
Previously, he led the community integration strategy for Walgreens Health Corners, enhancing health equity and access to care in Chicago. As a pharmacy manager at Walgreens on 86th and Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, Fadowole was instrumental in administering thousands of COVID-19 tests and vaccines during the pandemic – at his pharmacy and at long-term care facilities, churches and schools.
Beyond his clinical responsibilities, Fadowole is an advocate for pharmacists, as their role in health care continues to evolve.
As a graduate of the Retzky College of Pharmacy, he coaches and mentors pharmacy students, sharing his expertise as he guides them toward successful careers.
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Tariq El-Amin 00:01
Welcome to “Black Excellence” at UIC.
The Office of Student Success and Belonging, with Dr. Aisha El-Amin.
Recording of Dr. Martin Luther King 00:09
[Applause] Believe in yourself and believe that you’re somebody.
Clips from 1995 movie “Panther” 00:17
His intention is that we study and master a bunch of different things.
Why are you here?
Study and master a bunch of different things.
I’m proud to introduce our new Minister of Information
Aisha El-Amin 00:26
I’m Dr. Aisha El-Amin.
Tariq El-Amin 00:29
Welcome to “Black Excellence.”
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 00:34
If I didn’t need to have my white coat on, I didn’t need to have my white coat on, I didn’t need to prove to anybody I was a pharmacist, and I would interact with them, and I’d be like, hey, leave aside that I’m a pharmacist. Don’t get intimidated by that role. Talk to me on a one-on-one level. What are the health care challenges that you’re facing? What are the social determinants of health that you are finding that’s a challenge to you?
Aisha El-Amin 01:00
Hello, hello, hello, good people, and welcome back to all of my great listeners, both new and old. I want to welcome you to the University of Illinois Chicago’s “Black Excellence” podcast. It’s sponsored by the Office of Student Success and Belonging in partnership with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Marketing and Communications. And I’m your host, Dr. Aisha El Amin. I serve as UIC’s executive associate vice provost for student success and belonging.
Just a little bit of history and context: UIC’s “Black Excellence Podcast” was initiated in Black History Month 2022 and we started off with “28 Days of Black Excellence,” and this highlighted the history and legacy of exceptional Black faculty, students and staff that all call UIC home. During this month, we talked to graduates in all walks of life, from entrepreneurs to politicians, and they offered inspiration and sage advice while connecting the historic past to our contemporary times.
However, UIC’s cup of Black excellence runneth over, and so we continue this podcast with the understanding that you cannot know where you’re going until you understand, appreciate and connect into where you’ve come from. So, I stand in gratitude for the time that each of our alumni have given to us to have a conversation and to inspire.
In this episode of the “Black Excellence” podcast, we speak with Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole. Stephen is a native of Nigeria and an alum of UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Stephen had his sights set on getting his master’s degree in the U.S., but a difficult diagnosis within his family inspired a career shift and ignited a drive for hands-on impact. Stephen begins today’s episode introducing himself and sharing where his true passion for health care originated.
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 03:10
My name is Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole. Funny story. I literally relocated from Nigeria to America with the aim of being a civil engineer, right? So, I have a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Nigeria. I was like, you know what? Let me come do my master’s. Maybe I could go into the civil engineering field. But before I left, my grandmom was diagnosed with breast cancer. So it was sort of like a turning point in my life where I realized that every health care professional has firsthand connection with patients, whether it’s sick patients, whether it’s patients who just pass by in the sense that it’s an emergency kind of situation, or whether it’s patients that just need some sort of counseling. But every health care professional has a firsthand connection with his patients. And for me, it was, it was sort of like, what more could I have done to help my grandma out? What more could I have done to be impactful. She eventually passed as a result of the breast cancer. It was an awakening for me, right? So, I came, talked to a couple of friends of mine. I was like, you know what can I do in a health field? And the first direction was, go be a medical doctor. I was like, well, hey, I’m getting old, man. I don’t want to spend 12 years and then residency and then have all this crazy amount of student loans. Well, what more can I do, or what else can I do that wouldn’t require one, the amount of time, or the amount of resources, and it came down to either pharmacy or optometry.
Now, because of my background in civil engineering, I did a good amount of chemistry, right? So, I was like, you know what? Chemistry I can handle. Let me go the pharmacy route. And that was literally how it started. So, I had the bachelor’s degree, but I still needed to take the prereqs, so I started taking prereqs in the community college. Once I had set my goal on pharmacy, what only mattered was the amount of time that it took me to get to that. And thankfully, I got connected with great people. Tiffany Bumpers was super, super helpful in that pathway, right? I met up with Tiffany, and I sat down with her, and I shared that goal, and it was very easy to communicate that because I was enthusiastic about, like, you know what, hey, pharmacy, it’s pharmacy. Let’s do it. And that’s literally how I ended up in pharmacy.
Aisha El-Amin 05:56
So you, you ended up in pharmacy, really, because of your grandmother and what she was going through trying to, you know, make sure that you could do more and be connected to that. Can you tell me a little bit about what that route looked like after you finished at the community college getting all of your prereqs done? What did pharmacy school look like? What were some things that you learned during that time?
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 06:22
It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. It was, it was quite difficult. So P1 is a first year in pharmacy school. P2 is the second year in pharmacy school. P3 is a third year in pharmacy school, and P4 is a fourth year. But that’s the year where you do your rotations, your experiential sessions with different health care settings, right? Whatever you want to do, retail, community, hospital, clinical. So that’s the fourth year.
And I remember my first year I almost flunked out because it was a big adjustment. And I used to say to my friends and people that I studied with, like, back in Nigeria, when I, when I took an exam, right? It was, it was in front of me. Like civil engineering, I could see the bridges, right? I could see the building. I could understand the structural integrity of that building. But with pharmacy, it’s abstract. They tell you, like, this compound has, you know, an atom and all. And I’m like, wait a minute. So it took a while for me to adjust. And that was the first year of pharmacy school. I remember there was a specific class, it was quite difficult for me to get over. And as God will have it, I literally got an “A” on the finals. So that kind of pushed my grade up, and all of that experience, it took an adjustment.
So, once I got to P2, it was much easier. I had understood the lay of the land. I had developed strong relationships with tutors that, you know, I connect with, and there on out, it was smooth sailing. I think another adjustment for me was asking for help, right? I’m pretty much independent. I like to think of myself as an independent kind of person, where, you know what, you just gotta figure it out, you know? But seeking help — a big help for me was Dr. Awe, because she was very helpful in helping me understand that, Hey, it’s OK. It’s okay to not be perfect, right? You’re independent, you know, you, run businesses, you’ve done this and done that, but it’s OK to lack in this area and seek for help. Dr. Agard, major shoutout to Dr. Agard. She was very essential, and also helping me become comfortable in that environment, right? So, there were Tom Tolhurst. Oh, my God, may his soul rest in perfect peace. That man literally guided me through that class. And I remember going, in fact, I think I caused him the most amount of stress in my class, because I would go to him after every test and every exam, because I was like, “Well, I don’t get it.” And he would break it down for me. It took forever for me to understand that. So, it was a journey that I had to get used to, and I had to get out of my comfort zone to be able to adapt to it.
Aisha El-Amin 09:26
So, you’ve given some powerful advice there. I hear going to tutoring helped you. I hear asking for help when you weren’t accustomed to doing that, and also this building relationships, and very particular relationships in faculty that invested in you. Talk to me a little bit about the impact that UIC has had on you and where you are today in those relationships you built and that education that you received at UIC.
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 09:53
Very impactful. I can tell for sure, I remember the first, not the first job, but one of the jobs that I had with Walgreens was out of a posting on Facebook, and there was a Walgreens that was hiring, and then I think I was in P2 so I was like, you know what, “Hey, Walgreens is hiring. Let me literally go apply to it.” And this was a Walgreens on the North Side. I can’t forget, it was store #4862. I went there and I interviewed, and I got the role. And that started a wonderful career for me. Because out of working there, the pharmacy manager was able to work with me and my schedule in pharmacy school. So I worked on the weekends and then after classes during the week, I would drive Uber. So I would literally do all of that, that I was able to not only raise enough money to take care of myself and my needs, but I was also able to learn how pharmacy operated, and that kind of helped me, develop that enthusiasm for retail pharmacy, or best I say community pharmacy, right? Because then I could see how my pharmacy manager, shoutout to Peter, Peter Sessa. I can see how my pharmacy manager integrated with his patients, and this was a heavy Polish neighborhood, so I could see how they would walk out of the pharmacy, and, you know, connect with the patient. And I’m like, you know what, this is cool. This is why I wanted to be a pharmacist, right?
So it was very easy for me to fall in love with it. And then, as a result of that, I started with Walgreens, and I graduated, and I saw that I had a call on the South Side of Chicago, and there were a lot of people that needed that intimate connection. There were a lot of people that could do well with relating to someone that looked like them. So I was like, you know what, I transferred over to the South Side, and I started working on the South Side, and that was literally how my career blew up. So I think for me, just hitting that call and on our Facebook group that, hey, there’s a pharmacy that’s opening, that’s how I got my job with Walgreens. But also that the relationships that I’ve been able to build with Tom Tolhurst, for example, with Dr. Pluta, for example, I remember Dr Pluta connecting me with one of his friends, who was in the industry, because around the time I was graduating, I was trying to look at all the options, and that person was able to give me advice on how to pick my rotations and how to pick a rotation that I could get to experience some things in the field, right?
So it is very important to see and realize that that circle of COPs, College of Pharmacy, that circle, they’re going to be CEOs of drug companies in that circle eventually, right? They’re going to be directors of pharmacies, right? They’re going to be chief pharmacy officers in that class. So make sure that you’re building your relationship strategically, but also having a connection, a bond with these people. At least I say I found love in pharmacy school. My wife was in my class. All of those connections were super impactful in my path after pharmacy school.
Aisha El-Amin 13:33
I know in recent years, you’ve done a lot of equitable health care work on the South Side of Chicago. Can you talk a little bit about that work that you’ve done as well.
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 13:42
I think from day one, I’ve always seen myself as someone with a unique skill set, especially with a combination of my background in Nigeria, and also my ability to connect with people. I took a class in public speaking in community college, I had started businesses at that point. I saw the importance of reaching out to people and providing value. So it was important that wherever I found myself, I was able to portray that value.
And then fast forward to the 86th and Cottageville, which is a store on the South Side. And then the pandemic happened, and then George Floyd happened. And it was an eye-opener, because then we saw a health care study that came out that compared the ZIP code that I was in, 60608. I was with a ZIP code on the North Side, and you could see that there were very, very clear health care disparities.
And it made sense that those folks in all those stores that I worked, they weren’t asking the right questions. And if I didn’t take it upon myself to actually interact with them, and interact with them in a way they can actually relate with. I wasn’t saying “Hello!” I was like, “Hey, boss! Hey, man, bossman! What’s going on? You just running out of here with that medication? Man, you got any questions?” People be like, “Oh, man, you know what? This is a brother, I can relate to this dude. He’s a good guy. Let me talk to him.” and that’s literally how I interacted with my patients.
If I didn’t need to have my white coat on, I didn’t need to have my white coat on, I didn’t need to prove to anybody I was a pharmacist, I would literally wear scrubs, or I would wear, you know, my attire, and I would interact with them, and I’d be like, “Hey, leave aside that I’m a pharmacist. Don’t get don’t get intimidated by that role. Talk to me on a one-on-one level. What are the health care challenges that you are facing? What are the social determinants of health that you are finding that’s a challenge to you?” And that’s literally how I found that, you know, enthusiasm.
So, when the COVID vaccine came and there was hesitancy, right? And again, I don’t want to go into all the details, but you’re aware of the Tuskegee trial? So there was a lot of hesitancy in getting these vaccines. So because my store had that experience in connecting with the members on the South Side of Chicago, I actually spearheaded some of those interactions. So, we were in churches. We had House of Hope. We were at a bunch of churches on the South Side. We there was a mosque that we, you know, went to give vaccines at. So, we were at places of worship where we went in connected with those members of that congregation, when we were a ble to drive value and help highlight the importance of getting that vaccine. And looking back, there was a point I think I was it was doing, like an expose on my time doing health equity. I think we gave over 20,000 vaccines.
Aisha El-Amin 17:08
Wow.
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 17:14
Over 10,000 out of my store, so we were quite impactful. And it didn’t matter whether I was Nigerian or I had an accent or anything I could relate with them, and that was all that matter.
Aisha El-Amin 17:23
It sounds like you’ve been building relationships for a very long time. And congratulations on being recognized within the 40 under 40 leaders in Minority Health award recipient from the National Minority Quality Forum. At some point, and I can hear your passion, it turned from a career to a calling, right? And so, do you know when that, when that switch happened?
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 17:54
I think, for me, it was George Floyd. Now, before that, I’d always had the passion, but I remember particularly how I was. I think, a few days after, George Floyd happened, civil unrest started. My store was one of the stores that got hit. I remember driving out of the parking lot, even before I turn on to get on the expressway, I could see people breaking into my pharmacy. And it was just sad. It was sad because there was anger and there was frustration, and I understand that. But there was also an aspect that came up as a result of folks feeling like they’ve not been heard. And you can relate that with every form of health care and with every form of health care disparity. Take social determinants of health, for example. For someone to be in a space where they don’t have transportation to come to the pharmacy, and that pharmacy will get it ready, having an idea that this person might not come get it, but that pharmacy will get it ready, that person is going to feel like, “Man, they don’t even care about me. Man, how they gonna get my medication ready? They gonna call me that my medication is ready. They gonna tell me I got two days to come get the medication, but I ain’t got no money. I ain’t got no money to get on the bus.”
So, we started thinking about, you know what? Let’s put ourselves in those folks’ shoes. Let’s consider how they would feel if we actually delivered that medication, because that’ll help. And then when we deliver that then we can go and preach medication adherence all we want, because then they have the medication in their hand for them to be adherent to that medication. But until they have that medication, if that person doesn’t take their blood pressure, and their blood pressure spikes up, and they go to the emergency room, and then we say every time we go to the emergency room, the lines are crazy. No, we contributed to that person going to the emergency room because we didn’t get their medications to them on time.
Am I saying that every pharmacy out there is responsible for delivering that medication? No, I’m not saying that, but what I’m saying is put yourself in your patient’s shoes and act how you would want to be treated. And that was it, I would want to be at a sermon, or I would want to be in a church where, after the service, I could go get my vaccine, rather than going to Walgreens, where all the people in my community are against vaccines. All of them. So I’m going to walk to the pharmacy and be like, “Oh, Joe, you getting that vaccine?” “No.” I could give you at church, and you don’t even have to worry about that.
One of my mentors taught me. He said, health care is best served when you meet the patients at the point of their needs. And that was literally all I had in mind. And usually when you do that, when you do the dirty work that nobody wants to do, it’s easy to get seen. It’s easy to get noticed. And I’ve had a beautiful career to have beautiful leaders who, while doing those activities, without the intention of getting noticed, they were able to shine the light on me and say, “Hey, this guy is working wonders on the South Side of Chicago. He’s in every church, he’s in nursing homes, he’s even in mosques, he’s in the YMCA. He’s everywhere giving vaccines. You know what? He deserves to be recognized, and he deserves to have a shout-out for all he’s doing.” And we just did it, not trying to get recognized. We just went out there and did what we had to do.
Aisha El-Amin 22:03
Your sincerity in your heart comes across even in my conversation with you right now. And as we wrap up our time today, I want to give you some time to give some advice to those students that are considering UIC as a place to get their pharmacy degree and to go out, and they look at you and they see the equity-minded work that you’re doing, and they want to do that same work. Can you give some points of inspiration for those folks that are listening?
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 22:34
So your four years in pharmacy school, it prepares you to be a pharmacist. What you do after that four years is up to you. You can be a pharmacist, but in your community, you’re still a patient, you’re still a member, you’re still part of that community. So, it is up to you to take that knowledge that you’ve gotten as a pharmacist and be impactful in whatever space that you are.
I like to say that pharmacy enabled me to add value to people’s life. Think about the amount of lives that you will touch as a result of the knowledge and experience that you have, and you set your soul and let that be your compass. I wanted to be able to add value and impact people because I saw that my grandma would have appreciated that amount of value and impact before she passed. So, it was essential for me to do what my heart, you know, directed me to, right? And that’s why I follow that path.
Now in pharmacy school, you’re going to have experiences that may discourage you, and that’s OK, but it is essential to have a strong determination that will see you through
those obstacles, like a failed exam. Every everyone had a failed exam at some point. But don’t let that define me. Seek help and be comfortable in the fact that they are people who are constantly rooting for your success. Go to the office, the Office of Student Affairs, seek out help in the likes of Dr. Awe. There are people who want you to win, so take the light in that fact and run and chase your dream.
Aisha El-Amin 24:38
I want to thank you because you — you are UIC proud. You make us UIC proud. You are doing the work that we value so much in bringing education that you receive at UIC into the community and doing equity-minded work and changing health disparities and health outcomes for underrepresented communities. And so, thank you for your work. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for your commitment, and thank you for your time today.
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 25:12
Absolutely, pleasure is all mine. I appreciate everything you guys do. I think it’s important that the next generation of pharmacists that are coming on that, just as I had people who guided me right, that it’s also important that I also be a light and be a guiding path for those people. So, I’ve said it, I’ve told anyone that, just so you know, I have a soft spot for UIC, and if there’s anything I can do to serve, there’s anything I can do to add value, reach out to me and I’ll be right there to provide value and support.
Aisha El-Amin 25:54
Can you tell us anything more about the GA podcast that we can share?
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 26:01
My friend and I decided that we wanted to create a platform where people who had questions about how to just navigate their life in terms of their religion as Christians, and the understanding of Jesus. So, we created a podcast where we take time to address things that may seem normal, but they haven’t been approached from a God-like perspective, from a spiritual perspective. So, it’s called “Graceful Awakening.”
Aisha El-Amin 26:34
This has been wonderful. Keep doing the work that you’re doing, and feel free to reach out anytime, if I could be of assistance.
Olanyinka Stephen Fadowole 26:40
Absolutely. Thank you so much. And keep being a blessing to the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. Thank you so much.
Tariq El-Amin 26:47
Thanks for joining us. Find more inspiring and informative conversations with UIC alums, faculty and staff at blackresources.uic.edu.