Dr. Ojikutu’s passion for pediatric medicine started as a child during her own health journey. While she was promoted into a leadership role after practicing as a pediatrician for most of her tenure at Reading Hospital, her goals tied to her intrinsic commitment to serve children are stronger than ever.
Q: What brought you to Berks County in 2005 since coming to the United States at age 12 and growing up in New Jersey?
Above all else, I’ve always wanted to serve in a need-based community. When I started looking for a job, I started looking for areas that had the largest need for pediatric care. At the time, Reading came up as a place with a gap in pediatric services for patients who did not have private insurance. Reading Hospital had actually just embarked on a mission to develop a team to meet this need, so the timing was perfect for me.
Q: What pulled you toward a career in pediatrics?
My best friend’s dad was my pediatrician. So, the relationship I had with him was one of love, warmth, good touch and acceptance. I had a couple of illnesses at a young age, so it was one of the most important parts of my life. I want that for the kids. I want every child to know what it's like to be cared for. I also love kids, and I love teenagers and watching them grow through every phase… It's such a beautiful journey.”
Q: What is something you learned in your extensive experience that continues to drive you?
When I went through medicine as a black individual who was from another country, I learned that being black was a risk factor for so many things. Now, fast forward to 2024…What that drove in me was that I needed to find as many people who are coming into experience in health care and run the risk of being misunderstood and misconstrued, and I need to find how I can neutralize that and let them have an experience and encounter that reflects what you would have where you are in the dominant community. Every child should be hugged, encouraged and cheered on in an encounter where they don't feel scared, threatened or nervous because of some misunderstanding. A lot of that misunderstanding is actually taught in medicine. Medicine is now correcting that. So, we're making progress.
Q: Why is it important for a family to havea fitting relationship with their pediatrician?
Most of the time, we're partnering with parents and pouring all we can into keeping this child healthy so that they can live the rest of their life. When someone comes to us and wants our guidance in making decisions on the health and the well-being of their kids, you want them to use their energy to balance their child’s health, the vaccines and procedures instead of a distrusting relationship where they are wondering things like, ‘Do they have my well-being in mind? Do they really care about who I am? Do they see me? Do they believe me?’
Q: What fills your cup outside of work?
I love to garden, and I am rediscovering the joy of books in audiobooks. My faith also fills my cup. My husband and my two teenagers, 14 and 16, are a family of faith in every sense of the word. I love to spend time with my family. It doesn't matter where we go or what we do. We call it breathing the same air. As long as we're together, I have the experiences imprinted in my mind. We could be yelling at each other or hugging each other, it is all good to me.
Learn More
It Takes a Village.
The pediatric care at Reading Hospital is a collaborative effort between internal departments and partnerships with community physicians in Berks County.
Fun Fact.
Dr. Ojikutu’s first love was adolescent medicine. Prior to accepting her role at Reading Hospital, she considered developing an adolescent practice
