Our 2021 Graduates

Congratulations to our graduates

Busayo Irojah MDDr. Busayo Irojah Malafa was born in Jos, Nigeria. She moved to the United States at age 18 to attend Bluffton University in Ohio where she majored in Biology and Mathematics.

On completion of her undergraduate degree, she enrolled in Indiana University School of Medicine. Busayo’s desire to serve as a doctor stems from personal experiences growing up in Nigeria. The summer prior to commencing medical school, she spent time studying proteins related to HIV in the lab of Johnny He, director of the Center for AIDS Research.

During her time at the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM), Busayo was active in the Indianapolis Chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association and several volunteer organizations. She volunteered as tutor at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet High School  and also volunteered to visit nursing home residents through her church and a medical student organization. She also worked for the Office of Medical Student Affairs in varying roles. While at IUSM she co-authored a histology learning module for graduate students and received many honors. Some of these honors include: the Lula and George Rawls award for excellence and the Rosenbower award for surgery. She was also inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society for exemplary compassion in the care of patients.

On graduation from Indiana University School of Medicine, Busayo moved to York Pennsylvania where she completed her general surgery residency at Wellspan York Hospital. During her 5 years there, she received multiple awards and published 5 peer reviewed journal articles and a textbook chapter. She was awarded the resident with the greatest degree of excellence on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination in 2016 and again in 2018. She also received the greatest degree of excellence in the American board of surgery in training exam in 2016 and the William Shue award for Humanitarianism in 2018. In March 2018, Busayo went on a mission trip to Nigeria to perform free hernia repairs.

Busayo commenced her plastic surgery training at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 2018. During the interview process she was drawn to the camaraderie between the fellows and attendings. In her years at MUSC she gained a lot of knowledge but more importantly made many friends and gained mentors. She also underwent several life changes. She married her husband, Nyoki, in 2019 and in March 2020, they welcomed their son, Isaac.  "My three years at MUSC fully equipped me to be a successful plastic surgeon and I am appreciative of all  attendings, co-fellows and residents and thankful for the commitment of everyone at MUSC to teaching me," said Busayo.

After graduation, Busayo will be moving to York Pennsylvania to start a position at UPMC Memorial Hospital.

 

Steve Hermiz MDSteven Hermiz, M.D.  was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Turlock, CA, which is a small town in central California.  He attended Ross University for medical school and graduated with Magna Cum Laude distinction. He matched in a categorical general surgery position at the University of South Carolina/Palmetto health.

At USC, he scored the highest on the ABSITE, 5 out of 6 years and obtained a 99th percentile in his chief year. In between his third and fourth years at Palmetto Health, Steve completed a research fellowship at UNC, Chapel Hill under Dr. Scott Hultman, where he published 9 peer reviewed articles and 1 book chapter on burn reconstruction.

The plastic surgery program at MUSC was exactly what Steve was looking for in a program.

“Words cannot describe the gratitude I have to all the attendings,” said Steve. ”I’m forever indebted to this program and the attendings that I will always consider as mentors. You are all good men and women, I hope one day I can be as good as you.”

He met his wife, Sarah, when he was an intern. They have been married since 2017 and have expanded their family with the birth of their son.