MLS Alumna Hopes to One Day Provide Critical Care for All

5 questions with … Ivory Simon-Okube

By Ryan Clark

CHS Communications Director



Ivory Simon-Okube came to America from Nigeria when she was just 11 years old. But her home country made an impression. While there, she saw the negative effects of slow medical care.

She vowed to make a difference, and it led her to UK’s College of Health Sciences — specifically the Medical Laboratory Science program. Now, the 22-year-old graduated in December 2021, and became certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology in February 2022.

She’s been put on the right path, and as MLS celebrates its Class of 2022 Pinning Ceremony and Reception (6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Gatton Student Center, Ballroom C), we take time to talk to Simon-Okube and celebrate MLS.

“I decided to apply to this program because I wanted to have exposure to the lab environment and learn about tests that doctors order,” she said. “I believed that learning about these tests would help me better understand what tests to order when I become a physician. Additionally, I was fascinated with working in the lab and learning about how various results can aid with diagnosis.”

Here's 5 questions with … Ivory Simon-Okube:

Why UK? 

The first time I toured the University of Kentucky campus, I knew that I wanted to obtain my undergraduate degree at UK. I fell in love with the beautiful campus and all the events that were put in place with the sole purpose of making incoming students feel welcomed and loved. I also learned about the UK MLS program in high school. I became interested in that program and therefore, decided to commit to UK.  

What hurdles or hardships did you have to overcome to get to this point? 

I moved from Nigeria to America when I was 11 years old, and I had to adapt to a new environment and culture. I had to deal with intense loss due to lack of fast medical care. I was also bullied because I was from another country and had a different accent. Those hardships made me stronger and motivated me to chase after my dreams so I can help people in the future. I learned to be resilient and strong and push past those that tried to knock me down. I also learned to be more confident with myself and my abilities. The hardships I faced made me more empathetic towards others that may have faced, or are facing, a similar situation. My experience motivates me to be the best doctor that I can be and do my part to equally provide critical care to all patients. 

How has UK helped you along the way during your studies? 

UK provided multiple resources that helped me during challenging moments. I would often go to the counseling center and utilize various stress relief resources there. I also had several meetings with UK faculty about difficulties I was facing, and this provided me with the opportunity to let out my frustration and receive valuable advice. UK may be a big campus and it can be easy to get lost. However, UK always strived to provide something for everyone. There was always some sort of event or organization that I felt targeted common necessities of college students. I have built strong relationships at UK with people that continue to constantly check on me to make sure I am accomplishing my dreams.

What has been the best part about your time in the program? 

I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with my professors and peers in discussion about healthcare as a whole, or even working through case studies to diagnose a patient. This program made me feel safe to discuss my thoughts and ideas without feeling judged or criticized. I also enjoyed being able to have in-person lectures with my peers despite the pandemic. Finally, I enjoyed doing work in the lab and being able to share some intriguing discoveries with my professors and classmates. 

If someone was interested in going through UK MLS, how would you sell them on the program? 

I would tell them that honestly, this program will be challenging because of the coursework and exams. However, nothing worthwhile comes easy. This program provides you with so much information in such a short period of time — it is one of the fastest ways to get into the medical field and begin doing critical work that helps save lives. I would end with: You really do not have anything to lose because this field has an abundance of job opportunities. There are also numerous networking opportunities through the program as students complete their rotations.