Short Bio
Shirlene Obuobi is a Ghanaian-American physician, cartoonist, and author. She currently lives in Chicago, where she is completing her cardiology fellowship. Her debut novel, ON ROTATION, has been featured on multiple national outlets such as Teen Vogue, the Washington Post, and Good Morning America. She is a regular contributor at The Washington Post. Her second novel, BETWEEN FRIENDS AND LOVERS, will be released in July 2024.
Extended Bio
Dr. Shirlene Obuobi is a Ghanaian-American physician, cartoonist, and author. She completed her undergraduate education at Washington University in St. Louis and has subsequently received the rest of her medical training at the University of Chicago, where she is currently completing her Cardiology fellowship. Dr. Obuobi is also the originator of the popular @shirlywhirlmd comics on Instagram, which cover a range of topics, including identity, healthcare disparities, and the rigors of medical training. Her comics were influential in depicting to the public what it was like to serve on the frontlines of the early days the COVID19 pandemic and were prominently featured in both international and national galleries.
She is currently a regular contributor for the Washington Post's WellBeing section, and her work has also been featured in the Lancet, Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), and Medscape as well as in exhibits around the world. She is also a prolific speaker and has served as the commencement speaker for University of California San Diego School of Medicine Class of 2023 commencement speaker. Her debut novel, ON ROTATION, was published by Avon/HarperCollins in June 2022, was the July 2022 Book of the Month pick for Marie Claire, and has been featured in outlets such as TeenVogue, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and recently, on Good Morning America. Her second novel, Between Friends & Lovers, will be released in July 2024.
