Black Mother and Daughter Graduate Together From Medical School, Both Become Doctors

New Orleans, LA — Dr. Cynthia Kudji and her daughter, Dr. Jasmine Kudji, recently shared a very special moment when they became the first mother-daughter duo ever to graduate from medical school at the same time. Not only that, they have “matched” at the same hospital to complete their first and second-year post-graduate training positions as doctors.

Cynthia has graduated from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) St. Kitts in Maine, and Jasmine who graduated from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Louisiana.Now, the two of them have both matched at Louisiana State University, where Cynthia will study Family Medicine while Jasmine will pursue General Surgery. They will start working at the same hospital system on July 1st.

Cynthia, who is a native of Ghana, came to the US with her family when she was 2-years old. She had always wanted to become a doctor, but she had to put her dream on hold when she got pregnant with Jasmine at the age of 23.

She eventually worked as a nurse for nearly 10 years. At one point, she had a family trip back to Ghana. There, an incident wherein she helped take care of a sick child inspired her to finally pursue being a doctor.

The mother and daughter are both excited that they are together as they face the next chapter of their careers and continue to purse their dreams.

“I always tell people we laugh together, we study together, we cry together,” Dr. Jasmine Kudji told UMHS. “I think medical school is one of those experiences that you don’t truly understand until you’re in it. Sometimes people struggle to find someone who relates to their struggles, so for that person to be my mom was extremely helpful.”