COOUTH CMD Assures Young Doctors of Housemanship Slots, Urges Career Initiative
COOUTH CMD, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu
By Titus Eleweke
The Chief Medical Director of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, Dr. Maureen Uche Umeakuewulu, has assured newly graduated medical doctors of possible housemanship placements at the hospital, while urging them to take proactive steps towards advancing their careers.
Dr. Umeakuewulu gave the assurance on Tuesday, when she received the 2026 graduating class of Medicine and Surgery of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), led by its class representative, Dr. Chinemerem Sixtus Edebeatu, during a courtesy visit to her office.
The graduates, who completed their studies in September, expressed appreciation for the support, encouragement and goodwill they had received from the CMD since she assumed office.
They also congratulated her on her recent birthday and offered prayers for continued wisdom, strength and divine guidance as she discharges her responsibilities.
During the visit, the young doctors appealed to the hospital management to consider them for housemanship placements at COOUTH as they prepare to transition from medical school into professional practice.
Responding, Dr. Umeakuewulu expressed delight at receiving the graduating doctors and encouraged them to approach their careers with foresight, initiative and a willingness to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
She stressed that professional advancement often requires deliberate effort rather than waiting passively for opportunities to arise. According to her, young medical professionals must learn to identify available openings, prepare themselves adequately and take the necessary steps to position themselves for career growth.
The CMD noted that the transition from medical school to professional practice requires young doctors to be proactive and strategic in pursuing opportunities that will enable them to develop their skills, gain practical experience and build sustainable careers in the medical profession.
Addressing their request for housemanship placements, Dr. Umeakuewulu acknowledged the graduates’ desire to undertake their internship at COOUTH but explained that accommodating the entire graduating class at once could be difficult because of existing constraints.
She noted that the hospital’s capacity to accommodate house officers was limited by prevailing arrangements governing the programme, which, according to her explanation, was not under the direct control of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), leaving the hospital to bear the associated burden.
Despite the constraints, she assured the graduates that some members of the class would be considered for placement as the need arose, offering them hope of beginning their professional journeys at the institution where opportunities became available.
The assurance comes at a critical stage in the young doctors’ careers, as newly qualified medical graduates seek housemanship placements to gain the practical experience required for their professional development.
For the graduates, securing internship opportunities represents an important step towards consolidating the knowledge acquired during their years of medical training and preparing for the demands of clinical practice.
The visit also provided an opportunity for the graduating doctors to engage directly with the hospital’s leadership, express their interest in beginning their careers at COOUTH and receive guidance on navigating opportunities within the medical profession.
The CMD’s interaction with the graduates underscored the importance of mentorship, career guidance and institutional support in helping young medical professionals navigate the transition from academic training to clinical practice.
