Dr. Suah’s journey to becoming a transplant surgeon began in her childhood, shaped by both her family’s support and her awareness of the challenges in medical representation. Growing up in Florida, she was encouraged by her parents and sister to pursue her ambitions, even when the path seemed difficult. From an early age, she displayed a strong curiosity about the medical field, often asking questions about how the human body worked and how doctors could heal people.
As she advanced in her education, she became increasingly aware of the racial disparities within the medical profession. While excelling in her studies, she also observed a noticeable gap in representation—few Black doctors, especially women, held positions in highly specialized fields such as transplant surgery. This imbalance stood out to her, not just as a statistic but as a real obstacle to accessible and equitable healthcare. She realized that many Black patients often felt disconnected from a system that did not always reflect their experiences or concerns. Witnessing this lack of representation pushed her to pursue a career that could not only save lives through surgery but also help bridge the gap in trust between patients and the medical field.
Determined to make a difference, Dr. Suah attended Indiana University School of Medicine, where she honed her skills and deepened her understanding of patient care. While medical school was rigorous, she remained focused, pushing herself to excel despite the challenges of a demanding curriculum. She was particularly drawn to transplant surgery because of the direct and transformative impact it had on patients. Unlike other surgical specialties, transplantation offered an opportunity to not only prolong lives but to drastically improve their quality. This field required not just technical expertise but also a deep understanding of long-term patient care, as transplant recipients often require lifelong monitoring and support.
She was accepted into the prestigious general surgery residency program at the University of Chicago Medicine, where she trained for seven years. Throughout this period, she immersed herself in complex surgical procedures, refining her skills and learning from some of the best minds in the field. Her residency provided her with invaluable experience working with a diverse patient population, further strengthening her commitment to addressing disparities in healthcare. She developed a particular interest in kidney and liver transplants, given the high demand for these procedures, especially among Black patients who face disproportionately high rates of kidney disease.
After completing her residency, she pursued further specialization through a highly competitive fellowship in abdominal transplant surgery at Emory University School of Medicine. Here, she trained under world-renowned surgeons, gaining hands-on experience in advanced transplant techniques and patient management. She became deeply involved in research focusing on post-transplant outcomes and how socioeconomic factors influence access to organ donation and transplantation.
In 2023, Dr. Suah returned to the University of Chicago Medicine as a kidney and liver transplant surgeon, eager to contribute her expertise and advocate for more equitable healthcare. While her work in the operating room is critical, she understands that the challenges of organ transplantation extend far beyond surgery itself. Many patients, particularly those from marginalized communities, struggle with barriers such as limited healthcare access, financial constraints, and a general lack of awareness about organ donation.
Recognizing these obstacles, she has taken an active role in community engagement on Chicago’s South Side. She frequently visits churches, schools, and community centers to provide education on kidney and liver health, discussing risk factors, prevention strategies, and the importance of organ donation. Her goal is to demystify the transplant process and dispel misconceptions that often discourage people from seeking medical help early.
She also emphasizes the importance of early disease detection. Many individuals, particularly in underprivileged areas, do not receive routine medical checkups, leading to late diagnoses of conditions like chronic kidney disease or liver failure. By speaking directly to community members, she hopes to encourage proactive health measures and reduce the number of patients reaching end-stage organ failure without knowing their options.
Dr. Suah believes that trust is a crucial factor in improving healthcare outcomes. She knows that historically, Black communities have had reasons to be skeptical of the medical establishment due to past injustices. By making herself accessible and approachable, she hopes to rebuild that trust. Many of the patients she meets express gratitude for seeing a surgeon who looks like them and understands their concerns. She often hears stories from patients who have never met a Black transplant surgeon before, and their comfort in seeing someone they can relate to reinforces her belief in the power of representation.
Her work is not just about performing life-saving surgeries—it’s about changing the way communities think about their health, providing them with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions. Through both her clinical expertise and her outreach efforts, Dr. Suah is striving to make transplant surgery more inclusive, ensuring that every patient, regardless of their background, has a fair chance at a healthier life.
