After a long day of work, Dr. Nathan Okechukwu takes a relaxing drive around the neighborhood. Despite how the pandemic has severely affected his day-to-day work he recounts what he loves doing most. “My job, in my opinion, is the best job in the world. I get to see families heal, and people grow. I enjoy being a part of something larger, I feel like I’m making a difference every day,” he said.

Okechukwu poses during a stoplight, displaying an indent on his face made by the masks he wears daily within the hospital. Over the past few months, this indent has not gone away due to the mask’s constant presence. “ Psychologically it can wear on you because you see people sick all the time and the gear you wear can be exhausting to have on your face many hours of the day. It can cause pain behind your ears, and on the bridge of your nose but I try to protect myself as much as I can and listen to science,” he said.

Okechukwu flaunts his newly grown beard while watching tv in the family room. During quarantine, it has been a pride of his to show off. “It's a different look, I’ve never seen myself with a beard before, so I’m enjoying the fact that I’ve decided to shake things up quite a bit,” he said.

Okechukwu displays a watch that has sat on his wrist for a large portion of his life. A gift given to him by a dear friend almost 20 years ago, holds many memories that he still carries with him to this day. “I received this watch as a birthday present by a dear friend during my training as a nephrologist in 2000. I wear this watch for practically everything I do, it's endured, it's lasted and it signifies to me strength, reliability, durability, and also friendship,” he said.