Halimat Olaniyan

After my European escapade and tour of the Midwest I moved into my new apartment in Indianapolis. Moving is so unnecessarily stressful from apartment hunting to tours and applications. I...

The last time I talked about love over two years ago,  I thought I had met the one. What a cliche. I'm not sure if there is just one right...

Our minds are really amazing. They can make us believe we’re not in pain when we should be or that we are in pain/danger when we’re not. I really believe...

My mother and I have a complicated relationship. I am not sure there is a mother-daughter relationship in existence that is not complicated. Treading the delicate balance between parent and...

As of April 22, 2023, around 11:53 am, my life forever changed. I went from being Halimat Shadia Owolobi Olaniyan – author, philanthropist, sickle cell warrior and all-around pretty cool...

Have you heard of The Match? Well, it’s the most important day of medical school. The day all 4 years, and all the work before/outside of the 4 years, is...

Remember when I was on my period and nervous about giving blood for the first time? Well, that appointment had to be rescheduled because of the weather, so crisis averted...

While the year is still new, I want to talk about all the exciting things going on in my life and share updates on all the things I’ve been working...

Ha, kidding. I don’t really believe in New Year’s Resolutions, not just because most people make a list of unattainable and unsustainable goals, but because it’s too limiting. New Year’s...

When I was a child, I wasn’t allowed to have a private email address, let alone any social media accounts. Back then I thought it was unfair as all my...

Have you ever donated blood? I haven’t, which probably comes as no surprise. I didn’t always know though, that I couldn’t donate blood. In my mind, I thought there would...

So apparently December 3rd was International Day of Persons With Disabilities. There really is a day for everything but I had never heard of this day until recently. A lot...

Some people have no idea what’s it like to feel so utterly alone in this world. I’ve felt that way a lot, since first being diagnosed with sickle cell. It’s...

I think the concept of self is really interesting. And the idea that how we view ourselves can be quite different from how we portray ourselves to others or how...

I am a social butterfly and having sickle cell has only amplified that. I always have something to talk about. And, if you’ve read any of my pieces, you know...

The one accurate stereotype about sickle cell warriors is how strong we are – though, we should not have to be. To exist as a minority in a world that...

I’ve been thinking a lot about imposter syndrome lately. Maybe (probably) because I’m applying for residency right now. Residency is the field training you do after graduating from medical school...

Recently, Halimat, a fourth-year medical student with sickle cell anemia, sat down with Dr. Titilope Fasipe to talk all things sickle cell. Dr. Fasipe is a pediatric hematologist and a...

Dr. Titilope Fasipe is a pediatric hematologist and a sickle cell warrior! She is also the co-director of the Sickle Cell Program at Texas Children's Hospital. If that's not impressive...

I made it. I recently took the last test of medical school. Wow. When I tell you there were so many times these past few years, especially this last year...