If you know the two of us offline, you probably wouldn’t have expected this pairing! Dr. Dorothy and I were casual LinkedIn friends, where I was constantly inspired by her work. But when I followed her presidential run and learned about the remarkable impact she made alongside the hurdles of her medical school journey, I was floored. I knew I had to sit down with her and hear her story firsthand.
I spent weeks trying to figure out how to ask someone to open up about such a vulnerable topic. But as fate would have it, she randomly engaged with my status one afternoon, and I immediately took my shot.
I’m so glad I did.
Part 1: Understanding Setbacks
So what does success in the face of setbacks mean to you?
Okay. So success actually means that you are achieving milestones and scaling through with the goals that you set for yourself. But success in the face of setback is not just about erasing difficult moments or pretending that failure does not actually sting or bite. To me, it means refusing to let a single chapter dictate the entire book of your life. It’s the grit to actually dust yourself off and extract the lessons from a setback in order to help you show up stronger.
Is there a point in our life where we look at a setback and realize that it sets us up for success?
Okay, yes. Most times when things happen, we just feel like, “Oh, it’s the end of the world, how am I going to move up from here?” But there’s this saying in the Bible that man proposes, but God disposes. Even if you’re experiencing a setback, God actually wants you to learn from that process and is trying to bring you up for something better. Setbacks are often the greatest accelerators of growth, even if they feel entirely counterproductive at the time.
You say setbacks are the greatest accelerators of growth. That’s really powerful. Can you give an example of a setback in your journey that really set you up for your next phase of growth and impact?
Well, let me talk about one: the time I lost the presidential election. It looked like…I really put all my energy and time into it, making sure I read and was prepared for my exam like I always do. So it really hit me when the results came out. But with time, I had to go back, re-evaluate what was really happening, and I also prayed to God. From there, I saw that even if this door was closed, there are plenty of other doors that would be opened. That’s how I started doing more research and applying for more opportunities, which I got into.
Even when I was contesting, people were like, “Oh, you have capacity.” But after the election, it became like 10x my level during the election. And with that came even more opportunities.
Wow. Congrats on those opportunities and multiplying your growth! How do you personally find a way not to let it define you?
A setback actually does not define who you are at any point. One important thing you need to reframe is your mindset, because it’s what you believe in your mind that will manifest. You should see a setback as an experience or a season, but never your identity. You are defined by your persistence, your values, your capabilities, and your willingness to keep trying.
We’re never defined by our setbacks, but by our values, our consistency, and the other things that brought us this far.
Part 2: Overcoming Setbacks
What are your top three steps if someone were to walk up to you and say, “I just lost an election, or my relationship ended, and I have exams next week. How do I overcome this and focus on the next best thing?” What would you tell them?
- Accept that it has happened: One of the best steps to show you are moving on is to realize and accept what is happening.
- Reflect and Learn in Private: Go into your private space and think about what that situation is trying to teach you.
- Recalibrate and Plan: From there, recalibrate and plan towards the next step you are going to take. Itemize your steps, keep them somewhere accessible, and start taking action.
I love that part about accepting it. In 2025, when I was going through a phase, the moment I accepted it, was the moment things began changing and I could plan my next phase. So how do we regain confidence after a major setback?
Confidence is not something you just wait to feel—it is something you have to reconstruct through constant action. You cannot just sit down and expect to feel confident.
After a major setback, I usually:
- Look at my track record: I remind myself of past challenges I have overcome, proving I’ve survived difficult seasons before.
- Lean on my support systems: Especially my parents and close friends, who see the value in me even more than I see it in myself.
- Secure small victories: I focus on areas I can control. One single area of your life should not define who you are entirely, so winning in other areas rebuilds your confidence.
Speaking about taking actions and securing small victories. How do we stay motivated when things don’t go as planned?
Motivation is fleeting—it comes and goes. If you want to be serious in life, you must rely on systems and principles that keep you on your toes even when plans collapse.
When plans fail, I remind myself why I started in the first place. If the overarching goal remains important, a failed plan simply means I need to change my strategy. I lean into structured routines, break my goals into manageable tasks, and surround myself with inspiring individuals rather than relying on raw motivation.
You do things the average female medical student wouldn’t normally do, like diving deep into leadership and social impact. When did you stop comparing your journey with others?
I’ve never really been someone who compares my life to others because I’ve known right from time that comparison is the thief of joy. Growing up as the only girl among brothers, my parents never made it seem like a different system applied to girls versus boys. I realized I am here to live the life I chose for myself, and I am responsible for it.
In high-achieving spaces like medicine and global leadership, you must stop comparing yourself to others, or you’ll constantly feel left behind. Everyone’s highlight reel usually hides private, unseen battles. I constantly remind myself that I am unique and here for a purpose.
Part 3: Academic & Leadership Exploits
How did you navigate medical school, intense leadership roles, extracurriculars, and frequent travels all at once?
It required a really intentional blend of extreme time management, prioritization, and passion. To be honest, balance is a fable—there’s no such thing as perfect balance per se.
Instead, it’s about how you manage your time and prioritize. I don’t pick up a role just because it’s available; I evaluate how it will build me into the person I want to become.
In medical school, I knew every hour had to count:
- I leaned on strong study groups and led study sessions.
- I collaborated heavily with peers because I couldn’t do everything alone.
- When you care deeply about the impact you’re making, you find a way to honor your commitments without burning out completely.
How did you cope with having to resit your final medical examinations, and what caused it?
Resitting my final medical exam was one of the most humbling and emotionally heavy periods of my life. It was the first time I ever experienced an academic hurdle. Coping meant confronting my vulnerabilities, dealing with the fear of stigma, and forgiving myself.
It made me realize that it is not how long you read that matters, but your study systems and strategies.
I adjusted my approach, surrounded myself with a strong support system, and reminded myself that a delayed exam does not stop the dedicated doctor I will eventually become.
You mentioned study systems and strategies. What was the flaw in your initial study system and strategy, and what works better now?
Previously, I relied mostly on class materials and lectures, assuming anything necessary would be covered during postings without asking many questions.
My revised strategy includes:
- Active Curiosity & Asking Questions: Going beyond lectures to ask doctors and consultants detailed questions.
- Leveraging AI: Using artificial intelligence to prompt clinical scenarios, test understanding after reading textbook chapters, and generate practice questions.
- Understanding Learning Styles: Identifying whether you learn best via audio, videos, flashcards, or group discussions.
Contesting for the association presidency as a female candidate was historic. What was it like running under the “Defined Direction” banner while managing final exams?
It took an enormous emotional and physical toll, especially running while preparing for my Part 4 exams in Pediatrics and OBGYN. And that was when I discovered how strong I was. Falling short by a narrow margin was devastating, but I processed the loss and realized that leadership is not bound to an executive title.
My impact never depended on winning an election. I channeled that energy into community engagement and continental advocacy knowing that service is bigger than any office/title. This gave me the opportunity of collaborating with the Ministry of Health, being selected as a member of UNICEF Generation Unlimited 9JA Young People Action Team (YPAT) and was recognized as one of the 10 individuals Shaping Health Equity in Nigeria.
One book I highly recommend for leadership is The 360 Degree Leader by John C. Maxwell. John Maxwell’s The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth is also one of my top favorite books of all time.
What did these experiences—the resit and losing the election, tell you about yourself?
These experiences taught me that my resilience is far deeper than I ever imagined, because my worst fears actually happened[laughs].
So, when moving forward in life now, I know how better to handle setbacks because the academic setback was the one that really hit me. Yes…the presidency hit me, but not as much as that of the academics, because that was one thing I really, really held in high esteem.
So the experiences actually taught me that my true strength lies in my bounce-back ability, and the capacity to rise again with even greater focus and grit.
Part 4: Personal Journey & Advice
What motivated you to run for president when no female candidate had contested for that role in decades?
My motivation was not personal ambition; it was driven by the exposure I gained in continental leadership spaces. I wanted to contribute actively to UBEMSA’s development, break longstanding glass ceilings, and offer an inclusive, progressive student welfare vision.
I wanted to show younger female colleagues coming behind me that the highest decision-making tables belong to them, too.
Did you ever feel like giving up?
To be completely honest, yes. There was a two-week period where I felt suffocated by academic stress, public scrutiny, and campaign expectations. Giving up felt like the easiest escape route. But looking at the people standing behind me and supporting me, I knew I couldn’t give up.
How do you define your success today?
Success is not a straight line of uninterrupted victory. My success is measured by the lives touched through community engagement, the students inspired by my journey, the policies advocated for on continental stages, and the unbreakable character forged through every storm.
“I am successful because I am still standing, I am still growing, and I am still serving.”
What advice would you give to someone who feels left behind or feels like a failure after a setback?
- Life is not a race against your peers: A delayed start or detour often positions you for a unique depth of wisdom that others miss.
- Your worth is not tied to a transcript: Accept the facts, cry if you need to, but do not make devastating decisions in moments of pain.
- Setbacks are evidence of effort: A setback simply means you are risking, trying, and pushing boundaries. Setbacks are not proof of inadequacy; they are the raw materials from which your greatest resilience and eventual triumph will be built.
Read Also
Conversation on Audacity: Stepping Out, Scaling Up, and Winning Big
Conversation On Clarity As A Multi-Talented Entrepreneur
Creative by Design: A Conversation on Creativity
Conclusion
Sitting down with Dr. Dorothy Osahon leaves you with a completely renewed perspective on resilience. Her story shows that success isn’t about avoiding the storm or pretending setbacks do not sting, but about having the grit to extract the lessons so you can show up stronger every single time.
If you are currently facing a closed door, feeling left behind, or navigating a difficult season, let her experience be your anchor: your worth is never tied to an exam or election result. You are defined by your persistence, your values, and your willingness to keep trying. And as long as you are still standing, growing, and serving, your story is far from over.
