Ange Ahoussougbemey Mele, MD
Name
Ange Ahoussougbemey Mele, MD
Residency Program
Internal Medicine
Program Year
PGY-3
Medical School
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Home
West Africa
About
Tell us a little about yourself and your family, where you are from and what medical school you attended.
I was born and raised in Benin Republic. I grew up in Benin until age 15 before moving to New York in August 2008 with my father, mother and older brother. My parents are both diplomats and were appointed to work at the Permanent Mission of Benin to the United Nations. For me, coming to the United States was an opportunity to grow, learn and succeed.
I completed my bachelor’s degree in biology at Lehman College and my master’s degree in biological and physical sciences at Touro College. I attended medical school at the American University of the Caribbean in both St Maarten and the United Kingdom for basic sciences before returning to New York for clinical rotations. I have lived most of the time in New York with my family before moving to Georgia in 2021 for residency.
My family continues to live and work in New York, but they all love Georgia whenever they visit. I believe Georgia is a great place to live and work, and I will be practicing here after residency.
What made you want to go into practicing medicine?
During my undergraduate years, I volunteered at the intensive care unit of the New York Presbyterian hospital. I distributed newspapers to patients and families, restocked supplies and assisted nursing staff with running errands. As I spoke with patients, I realized there was a unique story behind each of them. I felt it was a blessing to care for them during their most vulnerable times. Interacting with patients made me happy, and I decided to pursue a career in medicine.
February is Heart Health Month, and it looks like you were a featured speaker for the Internal Medicine Grand Rounds. Can you provide us with the topic and brief description of what you want others to take from it in case they missed it?
My topic for IM Grand Rounds was how in adults, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) reduce occurrence of atrial fibrillation vs non-MRAs. MRAs are used as part of the guidelines-directed medical therapy for treatment of heart failure patients. They are also used in the treatment of resistant hypertension. MRAs are well-known for their diuretic properties. Several studies suggest that they may also help prevent occurrence of atrial fibrillation by decreasing atrial fibrosis. Their diuretics properties also decrease left atrial strain. More studies need to be completed on this topic, but the ones that are available suggest that MRAs may be used to prevent first-time occurrence and recurrence of atrial fibrillation.
How do you maintain wellness during residency?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I also like trying different restaurants. In Georgia, I have already tried African, Italian, Indian, Mexican, Persian and Korean restaurants. I enjoy watching and playing soccer. I also attend wellness events organized by NGMC GME such as kayaking and playing golf. I like learning about my friends’ cultures and celebrating festivities such as Diwali with them. I listen to all types of music, but my favorite type is Afrobeats. I enjoy going for long walks as they allow me to meditate and relax.
You are in your third year of residency; do you have any suggestions for residents in their first year?
My advice to the first-year residents is to be professional, eager to learn and respectful to everyone they work with. They should familiarize themselves with the wellness resources that are available and effectively use them. I would also recommend that they do not hesitate to reach out to their mentors for help and guidance. Most importantly, they should remember to take care of themselves and have ways to maintain wellness in residency.