Addiction & Psychiatry

중독과 정신의학|The One with Dr. Olawale Ojo: Episode 20 (2024)

“You can’t just come in and change a system overnight. You need to approach it diplomatically, finding areas of agreement to build trust. Recently, I started an addiction psychiatry clinic within a liver clinic, targeting patients with alcohol use disorder and severe liver dysfunction. Through my interactions, we’ve begun to challenge outdated beliefs, like waiting six months for cannabis cessation when it has no liver impact. These are the uncharted territories I’m navigating in my work.” — Dr. Ojo (2024)

I finally had the opportunity to sit down with the amazing Dr. Olawale Ojo, a psychiatrist specializing in addiction psychiatry. After years of trying to get him for an interview, it finally happened — and trust me, it was worth every moment! From starting his medical journey at 15 at Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria to his current role as Associate Program Director of Indiana University’s Addiction Psychiatry Program, Dr. Ojo’s story is nothing short of inspiring. We shared laughs, reflections, and deep conversations about his experiences growing up in Lagos, navigating societal expectations, and the pivotal moment in his fifth-year medical rotation that sparked his passion for psychiatry.