Breaking Barriers in Medicine
Dr. Nancy Abu-Bonsrah made history as the first African-American woman to complete the neurosurgery program at Johns Hopkins. This prestigious program, known for accepting only two to five residents each year, has been running for 30 years. Her achievement stands out, especially considering the program’s second-in-the-nation ranking and its notable alumni, including Dr. Ben Carson.
In 2017, Abu-Bonsrah gained national attention by becoming the first African-American female resident in the program’s history. Her journey culminated on June 21, when she celebrated her accomplishment surrounded by family, posting on social media: “12 years @HopkinsMedicine came to an end last weekend, surrounded by family. Surreal that I’m done @HopkinsNsurg! #olderandwiser #latenightreflections.”
Pioneering Clinical Interests and Global Impact
During her 12 years at Johns Hopkins, Abu-Bonsrah focused on neurosurgery, neurotrauma, and building neurosurgical capacity in Ghana and other low and middle-income countries. She also completed a Master of Public Health degree at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2022. This was supported by the Global Health Scholarship and MPH Scholarship Awards.
In addition to her medical degree, awarded in 2017, Abu-Bonsrah co-authored over 70 peer-reviewed articles. Reflecting on her time at Johns Hopkins, she acknowledged the significant mentorship she received from Dr. Christine McCauslin and the support from other faculty members at Mount St. Mary’s University’s School of Natural Science and Mathematics (SNSM).
“I’m especially grateful for the mentorship from Dr. Christine McCauslin during my time at the Mount. Her support for me, personally and professionally, knew no bounds,” Abu-Bonsrah shared. She also expressed gratitude for the encouragement she received from the science faculty, noting the special place they hold in her heart.
Honors and Recognitions
Throughout her career, Abu-Bonsrah has received numerous honors. As a neurosurgery resident, she won the Neurosurgeon Research and Education Foundation (NREF) Directed Residency Scholarship and the Hopkins Neurosurgery Department Irving J. Sherman Traveling Fellowship Award in 2021. In 2022, she was named a finalist for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health Practice Awards for Excellence in International Public Health Practice.
In 2023, she won the Hopkins Neurosurgery Department Louise Eisenhardt Award and the Association for Academic Surgery/Association for Academic Surgery Foundation (AAS/AASF) Global Surgery Research Award. These accolades highlight her dedication to advancing neurosurgery and public health on a global scale.
A Journey Rooted in Ghana
Born and raised in Ghana, Abu-Bonsrah moved to the United States at the age of 15. Despite the challenges of transitioning to a new country, she remained committed to her dream of becoming a neurosurgeon. In a 2017 interview with CNN, she expressed her desire to return to Ghana and contribute to building sustainable surgical infrastructure.
“I hope to be able to go back to Ghana over the course of my career to help in building sustainable surgical infrastructure,” she said. “I want to be remembered for serving my community, whether it is through providing quality surgical care or helping mentor the next generation of surgeons.”
