Congratulations, Ade

The hat is not incidental.

I want to start with this photo, because I think this photo explains a lot about Ade. There is warmth here. There is intelligence. There is style. There is also a certain reserve — not someone demanding the spotlight, but someone with real life and humor and depth just beneath the surface. And then, of course, there is the hat. The hat is not incidental. This is not a casual accessory. This is a thesis statement.

Style is inherited

With his mother, Olubunmi — Lagos

At first, I thought maybe Ade had simply developed this sense of style on his own. Then I saw this photo of his mother, Olubunmi, holding him at three months old, and I thought: okay, never mind. This is inherited. This is lineage. The elegance, the presence, the warmth — it was there from the beginning.

Already studying the room

Nine months old — not yet walking, already observing

His mom described him as full of energy, very bright, hyperverbal, and funny. Her line was, “You can’t be around Ade and be bored.” And looking at this photo, I believe it. He is nine months old, not yet walking, but somehow already looks like he is quietly forming an assessment.

One year old, already dressed for the occasion

Family, culture, celebration — and early evidence of range

And by one year old, Ade already had range. Traditional attire. Black tie. Family celebration. Birthday cake. A look that says, “I appreciate the effort everyone has put into this event, but I will be evaluating the proceedings carefully.” These photos are funny and sweet, but they also show a child surrounded by love, culture, and celebration.

Optional humor: “By age one, Ade had already demonstrated range: traditional attire, black tie, and cake-side composure.”

Optional humor: “A look that says: I am happy to be here, but I do have some questions about the methodology.”

A new chapter

Lagos → Ohio

His father moved to the United States first for work, and Ade, his mom, and his sister joined him later. I am sure the full story is much richer than I can tell tonight, but even the outline says a lot: distance, patience, adaptation, and possibility. His mother remembers that Ade changed a little when he came to America — he became more serious, more focused, and more inwardly directed.

Optional humor: “The energy did not disappear. It just got routed into books, school, computers, and probably video games.”

Focus becomes momentum

Ohio — the smile is familiar, but the trajectory is starting to show.

The energetic, funny, hyperverbal child became a serious student. He studied hard, read a lot, played video games, and developed a deep interest in computers and science. And then that focus became momentum — high school, Ohio State, and the path toward medicine and science.

Optional humor: “Some people play video games and become better at video games. Ade played video games and somehow turned it into data science, machine learning, and an MD-PhD.”

The physician-scientist

Ohio State → UCLA MD-PhD

Ade went from Ohio State to UCLA for MD-PhD training, where his work brought together biology, data science, machine learning, and medicine. What I admire is not just the achievement — although it is enormous — but the combination: scientific rigor, clinical generosity, and a personality that people want to be around.

Optional humor: “This is a rare Venn diagram: biology, computation, dermatology, and excellent hats.”

The Ade we know

Warmth, curiosity, kindness, and quiet excellence

For the last two years, I’ve had the privilege of working with Ade as my continuity resident. On a personal level, I have loved how many interests we share — medicine, dermatology, data science, computer engineering. But even more than that, I have appreciated his positivity, sincerity, kindness, and the way he shows up for patients and colleagues.

He is not the person who has to announce himself loudly when he walks into a room. But when you engage him, there is so much life there — humor, intelligence, depth, and kindness.

Congratulations, Ade

Ade, congratulations. From Lagos to Ohio to UCLA to dermatology residency, the through-line is not just achievement. It is warmth, curiosity, kindness, and the feeling that the room is better because you are in it. It has been a joy and a privilege to work with you. Congratulations.

And please keep wearing the hat. Dermatology needs more of that energy.