Ayotunde O. Dokun, FOEDRC Verna Funke Chair in Diabetes Research, director and professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, shares about his faith and discipline.
Tell us about your hometown; how did it shape you?
I grew up in Osogbo, previously in Oyo state Nigeria but now located in Osun state. Osogbo was a medium town back then but has now grown significantly becoming the capital of Osun state. I attended St. Claire's primary school and later St. Charles secondary school. Both institutions provided a foundation of discipline. The long trek from home to school in the early mornings and scorching sun in the afternoon coupled with waiting three years after secondary school to get into college taught me resilience. These experiences and my faith in Jesus established the foundation of who I am today.
Tell us about your hobbies/outside interests.
I played soccer in my youth but a series of injuries and getting older has sidelined me in this sport. I enjoyed watching my kids' (now adult children) athletic events. My son played football, and my daughter played volleyball. More recently I have taken up walking, mowing the lawn, and gardening.
What is your favorite hang out place?
Home on Sundays after service, primarily because my adult children usually come by to eat and do laundry. I get to spend time with the whole family.
If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A lion and a lamb. In the example of Christ. I believe He laid the perfect example of what I want to be. I know it is not possible for man to be Jesus, but my life goal is to be like Him.
Can you share a recent book/movie/performance that you found compelling and why?
The TV series on Prime, "House of David". This series chronicles the life of David from his very humble beginnings to becoming king over a great nation, Isreal. A key aspect of his story is that he was not the strongest or the smartest amongst his siblings, but God chose him and anointed him to be king because "he was a man after Gods heart".
What attracted you to the University of Iowa?
I did not know much about the university and was initially reluctant to come for a visit to interview for my current position, but I did agree to come for the visit out of respect for the then Department of Internal Medicine chair Dr. Dale Abel, whom I had a great deal of respect for. However, I was pleasantly surprised during the visit about the excellence in science and warmth of the people.
What surprised you the most about the university?
The quality of the science, especially in the diabetes center, and the people.
What shaped your interest in your discipline?
I find endocrinology to be very logical. Not a lot to memorize. In most situations there is a logical progression through problem solving, diagnosis, and disease management.
How would you explain to a child what you do?
I have three jobs. 1) In the clinic I treat people with disease related to hormones and metabolism. 2) In my research lab I am trying to develop a treatment for a disease that causes people to lose part of their limbs and currently has no medical treatment. 3) In my role as a division director I get to lead one of the most hardworking and dedicated groups of people in the university that are involved in training the next generation of doctors, caring for the sick, and seeking a better understanding of hormone-related diseases while searching for cures.
What is the best advice you received as a student and do you still follow that advice today?
I believe most people talk about their successes, but the true lessons lie in the failures.
Tell us about a project or achievement of which you are particularly proud.
In my personal life, I am exceptionally proud of the family God has given me. In my professional life, I am proud of many things and can't list them all. Recently one of the things I am most proud of is what the endocrine division has become over the past few years. We are one of the most diverse divisions in the school of medicine and we have excelled in scholarship, teaching, research, and clinical care.
In what ways have you engaged with professional activities outside the institution (local, regional, national)?
Chair, Nominating Committee Endocrine Society (nonvoting member of the Board of Directors of the Endocrine Society) Invited Member, Center for Disease Control (CDC) Diabetes Management Collaborative Dr James W. Reed Lecture in Diabetes (National Medical Association), 2022 Chair, Network of Minority Health Research Investigator (NMRI) Mid-West Regional Workshop Planning Committee. 2020 Chair, Endocrine Section, National Medical Association (NMA) current Federal Advisory Commission, US Department of Health and Human Services, National Clinical Care Commission (ended 2021) NIH study section: Standing Member, Integrative Myocardial Physiology/Pathophysiology A. Current Standing Member, NHLBI Atherosclerosis and Inflammation of the Cardiovascular System, Study Section (ended 2021).
How do you see your work impacting your field?
Chronic limb threatening ischemia (CTLI) is a severe form of peripheral artery disease and is the leading cause of non-traumatic limb amputation. Individuals with diabetes are five times more likely to develop CTLI. I believe our work has the potential to provide gene therapy as a treatment for CTLI in individuals with diabetes and PAD.
What changes are on the horizon for your work or your discipline?
I think prior attempts using gene therapy that were successful in mice but later failed in humans likely failed due to the preclinical work being performed in a PAD model that did not closely resemble the human disease. With the more recent development of PAD preclinical models in mice and large animals (pigs) that more closely resemble the human disease I think we are likely to identify therapies that will be effective in humans.
What piece of advice would you give to today's students?
Find a good mentor. Most successful people were mentored by someone.
What words of wisdom would you like to share, what quotation or person inspires you, what does the next chapter look like?
There is a line in a 2018 song by a group named "CityAlight" that I believe capture my thoughts as answered the questions above, it states " Yet not I but through Christ in me".