Youngest African-American female to own an ER opens another clinic

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - A Houston woman was first recognized as being the youngest African American woman to own a free-standing 24-hour emergency room back in 2015. Fast forward 3 years to the ripe age of 35 years old, and she now owns two emergency rooms, and a med-spa.

Dr. Foye Ikyaator never knows what she'll end up diagnosing or treating at her 24-hour emergency room.

"You really don't get to pick what walks into the ER," says Dr. Ikyaator. "One patient may come in with the cold, another may come in with a heart attack."

Her Garden Oaks location is the second free-standing location the 35-year-old and her husband have opened in 3 years. This one connects to a med-spa.

You could say that the Nigerian native and mother of two is a woman of all trades. Her staff of over 25 and 12 doctors boasts similar versatility.

"Everybody in the building can do labs. Even i know how to do x-rays."

Dr. Ikyaator has been recognized as the youngest African American woman to own a free-standing ER. But in addition to her growing list of accomplishments, she's not one to brag, because at the end of the day, her work speaks for itself.

"A patient who walks in today with cellulitis, or chest pain or belly pain, they don't care who I am or that I'm the youngest or oldest one," says Dr. Ikyaator. "They just want to know, can you figure out what's wrong with me?"

"Not only was it convenient but it was very compassionate," said Eddie Deckard, a former patient. "Her skill level was very capable. I left feeling much better than when I came."

The med-spa has received similar enthusiastic reviews for the services offered and quality of care.

**SOT-- stacey fike / current medspa patient

"The results are paramount if you're going to be getting med-spa and spa services, you of course want results," said Stacey Fike, a current med-spa patient. "The added benefit is that you're in this environment with professionals and you're relaxed."

Dr. Ikyaator's journey to pursuing a career in emergency medicine is a personal one that started nearly 17 years ago, after her mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer by an ER physician. She had been visiting her primary care doctor for months with no answers or diagnosis.

"There's no amount of money that can give you the fulfillment that you have when you know that you've really impacted somebody's life," she says.