Doctor Ikyaator: Charting Her Own Territory

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Everywhere you look, there's a new free-standing emergency room popping up. Dr. Foye Ikyaator opened up her own ER at the tender age of 32.

"The idea is not new," said Ikyaator. "I didn't create it."

Most stand-alone emergency rooms are owned by hospital systems or doctor groups. Life Savers Emergency Room is a little different.

"To me it's just been something I've been working so hard to accomplish for several years now," said Ikyaator. "The fact that it's actually here is mind boggling."

She says determination to overcome obstacles growing up in Atlanta helped put her on the fast track.

"I've watched a parent die of a pretty major medical illness, I've been through medical school, I've worked in several different facilities, I come from a poor upbringing or background," said Ikyaator. "So I've had a lot of challenges that my family has overcome for me to get to where I am."

Although Ikyaator is in charge, she has several other doctors on staff full time. Some doctors even work here on their off days.

"When they come here, they're able to see maybe 10-12 patients in a shift as opposed to seeing 30 patients in a shift, which is an overwhelming amount of patients to get their problem solved in the eight hours you have here," said Ikyaator.

Ikyaator's story has been shared all over the country on social media, but she says her focus is not on recognition. It's on her patients.

"To me, it's just another day. trying to accomplish my dream," said Ikyaator.

Perhaps the biggest component of the practice is educating patients.

"We try to educate them so they don't end up in the ER all the time for the same issue. So there's a lot of education, and that part is very rewarding to me," said Ikyaator.

She says she's not worried about competing with the "Big Dogs" for customers.

"There are some guarantees in life that at one point or another everybody is going to need a doctor, even me," she added.