Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, MD, MSPH, MBA, FAASS

Professor

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Contact

SadeKosoko-Lasaki@creighton.edu
School of Medicine
Surgery
Ophthalmology
HLSB - Hixson Lied Science Building - Suite, G-13, Room G-23

Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, MD, MSPH, MBA, FAASS

Professor

Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki is a multiple national award winner and internationally renowned researcher in minority health, with a distinguished career dedicated to increasing diversity within the healthcare workforce. Her leadership at Creighton University has been instrumental in advancing training and education for a diverse group of faculty and students across pre-collegiate and collegiate levels in Nebraska. These efforts have led to the acquisition of several multi-million-dollar research awards and contributed to the designation of Creighton’s School of Medicine as a Center of Excellence in Minority Education in 2005.
From 2000 to 2024, Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki directed the Office of Health Sciences' Multicultural and Community Affairs, where she developed and sustained transformative pipeline programs such as the Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Pre-Pharmacy, and Health Professions Post-Baccalaureate Programs. These initiatives have provided essential academic and professional support to students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing careers in health sciences.
Her commitment to mentorship and inclusive education continues through her active involvement in Health Professions Pipeline Programs, including the Community Health Workers Programs, weekly Common Ground Health Disparities Initiatives, Cultural Proficiency Seminars, and Summer Research Programs. A strong advocate for community engagement, Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki emphasizes Community-Based Participatory Research to foster collaborative partnerships between academic institutions and community stakeholders. Her work consistently promotes cultural competence, equity, and the empowerment of underserved populations.
As an ophthalmologist with a public health degree, Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki has dedicated her global efforts to blindness prevention, focusing on Vitamin A deficiency and glaucoma. She has served as a consultant to UNICEF, USAID, and Helen Keller International in Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania, Chad, and the Philippines. Since 1986, she has conducted research on the prevalence of glaucoma among Black populations in St. Lucia, West Indies, and has led health fairs and screenings across the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic. Her initiative, “Preventing Glaucoma Blindness in Nebraska: A Creighton University Initiative,” targets individuals at risk for glaucoma-related blindness in surrounding communities.
Dr. Kosoko-Lasaki is also a published author, having co-authored works such as Maintaining the Target Intraocular Pressure: African American Glaucoma Specialist, Cultural Proficiency in Addressing Health Disparities, Diversity and Inclusion in a More Perfect University: HS-MACA 20-Year History of Success, and Addressing Health Disparities in the LGBTQIA+ Community. Her career reflects an unwavering dedication to health equity, education, and global public health.

Curriculum Vitae

Research Focus


MAJOR RESEARCH INTERESTS
1.        Prevent Blindness, Galucoma Research
2.        Community Based Participatory Research
3.        Chronic Disease  Epidemiology
4.        Cultural Awareness and Strategies for Implementation
5.        Mentoring Activities Grades K-20
6.        Diversity in Education
7.        Recruitment and Retention in Higher Education
8.        Pipeline Programs into Health Science Schools
9.        Post-Baccalaureate and Bridge Programs
10.      Diversifying the Work Force: Strategies and Implementation
11.      Racial Inequalities
 

Department

Surgery

Position

Professor

Books

  • Kosoko-Lasaki, Sade , Mark Goodman, Michael White (Copyright 2020) Addressing Health Disparities in the LGBTQIA+ Community. Creighton University. ISBN (Print): 978-1-09834-715-4 ISBN (eBook): 978-1-09834-716-1 2021
  • Sade Kosoko-Lasaki (Copyright 2020) Diversity and Inclusion in a More Perfect University: HS-MACA 20-Year History of Success, Health Sciences-Multicultural and Community Affairs, Creighton University. ISBN: 978-1-09830-861-2. https://bit.ly/diversityninclusion 2020
  • Not Applicable
    Kosoko-Lasaki O, Olivier MGM, Burney E. Maintaining the Target Pressure: African-American Glaucoma Specialists. Slack Publishers 2005

Articles

  • Journal of Health Science and Education
    Smith J, Ochuba O, Kosoko-Lasaki O, Stone JR, Ejike E., “Community Health Ambassadors’ Work Challenges COVID-19 Spread in Spatially Segregated Minority Communities in Omaha, Nebraska”, https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/reducing-covid19-pandemic-morbidity-and-mortality-in-the-minority-population-through-education-and-training-of-diverse-c.pdf
    5(2), p. 1-6 2021
  • Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
    John Stone, Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, Richard Brown, Jeffrey Smith, Mervin Vasser., Reducing COVID-19 Pandemic Morbidity and Mortality in the Minority Population through Education and Training of Diverse Community Health Advocates/AmbassadorsISSN: 2161-0711. 1000710.
    11(4) 2021
  • Journal of Community Medicine & Health Education
    Stone, JR., Lasaki, SK., Jackson SB., Lassiter, D. “Community-Academic Collaboration and Ethics-Concepts, Principles and Processes: Building on the Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity-Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health”. 2021
  • International Journal of Health Promotion and Education
    Olgbmiga Eknday, Omofolasade Kosoko-Lasaki, Jeffrey M. Smith, Garrick I. Hayashi, Raheem Sanders, Aminatu Issaka & John R. Stone (2020) Neighborhood characteristics and effects on physical activity in an urban minority community application of Health Belief Model to findings from Creighton University Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity (CPHHE-REACH) initiative, DOI: 10.1080/14635240.2020.1726200. 2020
  • Ekundayo O., Kosoko-Lasaki O, Smith J, Hayashi G, Sanders R, Issaka A and Stone J.  “Neighborhood Characteristics and Physical Activity in an Urban Minority Community – Application of Health Belief Model to Findings from Creighton University Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity (CPHHE-REACH) Initiative”.  2019
  • Journal of Health Science and Education
    Smith JM, Sanders R. Kosoko-Lasaki O and Stone JR “Training Community Health Ambassadors to Administer SOPARC”, Creighton University, Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity (CPHHE) Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH, USA). Journal of Health Science and Education, JHSE-1-169 
    3(4), p. 1-7 2019
  • Journal of the National Medical Association
    Kosoko-Lasaki O, Ekundayo O, Smith J, Ochuba O, Hayashi G, Sanders R, Brown R, Stone J. Urban Minority Community Safety and its Impact on Physical Activity: The Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity-Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (CPHHE-REACH) Initiative.
    111 (3), p. 334-344 2019
  • J Continuing Education in Health Professions
    Kosoko-Lasaki O, Stone J, Smith J, Brown R, Harris T, Sanders R, Jackson S, Lassiter D, McMorris K, Issaka S, Klimowicz J. The Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health Program 2017
  • Int. J. Cancer
    H.T. Lynch and O. Kosoko-Lasaki entitled, Screening for Familial and Hereditary Prostate Cancer
    138(11) , p. 2579-2591 2016
  • International Journal of Cancer
    Wenzel C, Statler B, Kosoko-Lasaki O, Priluck J, McGill E. Review of Diabetic Retinopathy: An update for the primary care provider 2014
  • American Journal of Clinical Medicine
    Kelkar A, White WA, Kosoko-Lasaki O: Ocular Manifestations of Domestic Violence: A Case Review
    10, p. 40-46 2014
  • Journal of Urology
    Moul JW, Walsh PC, Rendell MS, Powell, Leslie SW, Lynch HT, Kosoko-Lasaki O, Fitzgibbons WF, D’Amico AV,  Catalona WJ: Early Detection of Prostate Cancer:  The AUA Guidelines.
    191(3), p. 871 2014

Presentations

  • Healthy People 2030: Addressing the healthcare Workforce 2023
  • National Institute of Health, MWR-NMRI Virtual Regional Conference/Workshop 2022
  • Kosoko-Lasaki O. Recruiting and Retaining URM Faculty Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) Virtual Meeting Deep Dive Sessions: How Do We as Leaders Change Ophthalmology to Reflect the Faces of the Nation. 2021
  • Kosoko-Lasaki O. "Cultural Competency for HCOP Faculty", Creighton University, Omaha, NE 2020
  • "Glaucoma Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment" presentedto PA Students: Clinical Medicine HEENT/Dermatology Course. School of Medicine,Creighton University, Omaha, NE. 2019
  • "Overview of HCOP Pipeline to Success Program at Creighton University"presented at Empowerment Network's African American Leadership Conference/A Culture of Excellence at CHI Health Center Omaha, NE. 2019
  • Kosoko-Lasaki O. "HCOP Health Professional Workshop: Negotiating Salary and Reviewing Contracts", Creighton University, Omaha, NE. Present every semester since 2019 2019
  • Victor Umoh, Anthonia Ikpeme, Emmanuel Effa, Marcus Inyama, Boniface Ago, Theresa Ekpenyong, Nocholas Maxwell, Jessica Bedi, Akaninyene Out, Nchiewe Ani, Sade Kosoko-Lasaki, Andres Ekpenyong. "100% Free Patient Care, Telemedicine, Clinical Research and Mobile Clinics at a Research Hospital in Rural Nigeria: a model for improving health equity" presented at Global Health Conference Mid-West. 2019
  • Kosoko-Lasaki O. "Cultural Competency for HCOP Students", Creighton University, Omaha, NE, Present every semester since 2018 2018
  • Kosoko-Lasaki O. "Cultural and Ethnic Approaches to Health: Case Studies", CIPER Passport Interprofessional Education. Creighton University. 2018 - Present every semester since 2018 2018
  • Volberding T, Hailey A, Weiner L, Troung L, Fenske B, Hoyt B, Mamdani N, Kosoko-Lasaki, O. "Retrospective Analysis of Refractive Error Screening in Guatemala", presented at the Global Health Conference, Omaha, NE. 2018
  • Weiner L, Hailey A, Truong, L, Calma R, Meyer Z, Kosoko-Lasaki S, Poster Presentation ""Effectiveness of Low-Cost Glasses Distribution in Guatemala, Peru and Vietnam", presented at the Annual Global Health Conference (GHCM) Midwest Conference, Omaha, NE. 2017
  • Poster Presentation: Effa, E, Ikpeme, A, Inyama, M, Agu, B, Ekpenyong T, Out, A, Ani, N, Egbe, W, Akpan, E, Prathivadhi, S, Nichols, M, Kosoko-Lasaki, S,Ekpenyong, A: "Mobile Clinics Deployed in Rural Nigeria for Free Patient Care and Clinical Research", presented at the 2016 Global Health Conference, Midwest, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, 2016
  • Poster Presentation: Truong, L, Briggs, B, Kiblinger, M, Andersson, J, Maldonado d, Brandeis A, Funke M, Hiatt M, Pham A, Robinson L, Dobleman J, Houghton R, Murray E, Nicola L, Nissen G, Cook S, Heng P, Auennoz L, Mamdani N, Kosoko-Lasaki O: "Effectiveness of Low-Cost Glasses Distribution in Nebraska, Guatemala, Ghana, Cambodia, and the Dominican Republic", presented at the 2015 Global Health Conference Poster Forum, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska 2015
  • Kosoko-Lasaki, O, Mentoring for a Diverse Ophthalmology Work Force, National Medical Association Annual Convention (NMA), Honolulu, Hawaii 2014
  • Kosoko-Lasaki, O. Mentoring for Residents and Junior Faculty, Rabb-Venable Excellence in Research Program, National Medical Association Annual Convention (NMA), Honolulu, Hawaii 2014
  • Kosoko-Lasaki, O. URM Faculty Case Studies, National Medical Association Annual Convention (NMA), Honolulu, Hawaii 2014
  • Kosoko-Lasaki, O. "Unconventional Research", Creighton University Summer Research Institute Colloquium, Omaha, Nebraska 2014
  • Kosoko-Lasaki, O, Maintaining the Pipeline: Collaboration to Promote Diversity and Productivity, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), 2014 ARVO Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida 2014
  • Gong G, Kosoko-Lasaki O, Haynatzki G, Lynch H, Lynch J, Wilson MR, "Familial aggregation in genetic studies of primary open-angle glaucoma." ARVO 2005 Annual Meeting, Ft. Lauderdale 2005
  • Kosoko-Lasaki O, Gong G, Olivier MGM, Haynatzki G, "Ethnic Diversity in the prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma in the African continent." 5th International Glaucoma Symposium (IGS), Cape Town, South Africa, 2005
  • Kosoko-Lasaki O. Ocular Manifestations of Vitamin A deficiency and its relationship to childhood mortality. Presented to primary care health care workers and family practitioners in Santiago, Dominican Republic. 2005
  • Kosoko-Lasaki O, "Addressing Health Disparities in Eye Care Delivery." Presented at the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, Anaheim, CA 2004 2004
  • "An insight into the HCOP Mentoring Process: Experience at Creighton University." HCOP, COE and MFFP: Changing the Nation Today for a New Generation, Bureau of Health Professions Annual Project Director meeting, Washington, DC 2002
  • Rate of Visual Field Progression in a Glaucoma Followup Study in St. Lucia, West Indies. Presented at the 3rd International Glaucoma Symposium, Prague, Czech Republic 2001

Awards

  • The Kingfisher Award
    Award given by the President of Creighton University in partnership with Kingfisher Institute for the Liberal Arts and Professions. Given during the virtual campus Presidential Town Hall.
    President of Creighton University
  • Community Healer Award
    The Community Healing Network of New Haven Connecticut and Black Men United In the spirit of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler
    Malcolm X Memorial Foundation
  • Drum Major Award in the Area of Accountability
    Drum Major Award in the area of Accountability Action Advocacy Accountability (IMA), The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Metropolitan Omaha Remembering and Honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr