On September 24, Frank Olumba, MD, was recognized for his remarkable dedication to community engagement. He was recently presented with the inaugural WISE Lab Community Outreach Volunteer of the Year award for his unwavering commitment to mentoring and encouraging students from elementary to high school to pursue careers in medical fields.
The award was created by Karen Schubert, BS, an education service coordinator at the Washington University Institute for Surgical Education (WISE), who recognized an opportunity to honor the volunteers. Volunteers – including nurses, medical students, and surgical residents and fellows, among many others – assist in running the community outreach workshops at WISE.
“We realize that it is very hard to get people to come and help with community outreach,” said Schubert. “We know how difficult it is for people to take time out of their schedules.”
The award was presented to Olumba at Clopton Auditorium during the weekly general surgery education conference in September, near the start of the 2026 academic year. As part of the award, he was gifted a wrestling-inspired championship belt. Going forward, the WISE staff will recognize winners of the volunteer of the year award in the center as a printed sticker decal placed on a common wall for all visitors to see, alongside Olumba’s.
A history of volunteerism
Last academic year, as a PGY-3 clinical resident, Olumba mentored students from elementary to high school throughout the year. Olumba stood out by attending 4 of the 17 events. His commitment and enthusiasm for teaching reflect the selfless spirit the award seeks to celebrate.
As a child, Olumba moved frequently and attended high school in San Antonio. He went on to complete his undergraduate studies at the University of North Texas, followed by earning his medical degree at UT Southwestern in Dallas. His experience in medical school sparked his passion for community service and outreach, influenced heavily by the mentors who supported him throughout his educational journey.
“Growing up, I noticed a significant need for diverse role models in medicine,” Olumba said. “Many of my friends and peers had never met a Hispanic or Black doctor.”
During his studies at UT Southwestern, Olumba played a pivotal role in creating career day fairs and community organizations that connected medical professionals with students in the Dallas region. These events predominantly targeted Hispanic and Black middle and elementary schools in South Dallas.
“It was important to me to show these kids that they could aspire to become doctors,” said Olumba. “Especially when they come from neighborhoods that don’t traditionally see many students attend medical schools.”
The team at WISE recognized Olumba’s efforts, based on his hours of commitment to visitors to the lab, a program that they host to inspire students of all ages to pursue medical careers.
“Through countless hours spent teaching aspiring surgeons of all ages, Dr. Olumba has shown that surgical education and service extends far beyond the operating room,” said Jennifer Yu, MD, MPHS, program director of the general surgery residency. “His commitment to sharing knowledge, inspiring curiosity, and mentoring future generations reflects a generosity of spirit that elevates our entire community. In the outreach events held by our incredible WISE lab, Dr. Olumba helps learners explore the art and science of surgery – whether explaining the fundamentals of laparoscopy to curious elementary school students or guiding staff members through hands-on demonstrations. He consistently exemplifies the powerful impact that our team can have upon the world around us.”
Never too busy for mentorship
Olumba continues his outreach efforts in residency at WashU Medicine. Despite the rigorous schedule of a postgraduate clinical resident, he has remained committed to participating in community outreach events. His dedication has resonated deeply with his colleagues at WISE. Despite his extensive involvement, Olumba acknowledged that he did not anticipate receiving an award for his outreach efforts.
“I believed being busy shouldn’t be an excuse to neglect community outreach,” Olumba said. “It’s a way to give back and demonstrate that you can still contribute meaningfully. It was a pleasant surprise to me. I didn’t even know this was an award one could win. But thinking back, it was really the outreach events that mattered more to me than the recognition.”
Olumba’s recognition as the WISE Lab Community Outreach Volunteer of the Year underscores his unwavering commitment to mentoring and empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds. His story serves as an inspiring example of how dedication to community service can create lasting impacts.
“The wrestling belt lives in our office and can be worn by Frank whenever he comes down to WISE,” Schubert said. “Going forward, whoever is the current winner will have the same privilege. Frank also received a WISE t-shirt and some personal gifts. We will pick something personal for each winner in the coming years.”
The runners-up, who tied in times spent, were two general surgery residents, Abby Hatcher, MD, an education fellow at WISE, and Shaleen Sathe, MD. They, along with Olumba, were tied for hours spent working on community outreach until the last session of the academic year.
