Congratulations to Iyore Zielsdorf, Hendricks Neurology! On February 3, she received the phone call she’d been working toward for six years:Iyore earned her U.S. citizenship!
Iyore’s journey started in 2016. Living in Lagos, Nigeria, she worked as a medical records officer at Unita Hospital. When a friend in Texas invited her to visit, Iyore accepted, having no idea how life-changing this trip to the United States would be.
After visiting her friend in Dallas, Iyore traveled to Indiana to visit another friend. While attending church, she met the man who, in February 2018, became her husband.
Now that she knew she was staying in Indiana, Iyore and her husband, Kenneth, started the multi-step process to gain her U.S. citizenship. They obtained a formal work authorization so that she could begin working and her green card.
In 2022, Iyore and Kenneth welcomed their daughter, Raven-Rayne. Happily married with a new baby and on her way to U.S. citizenship, Iyore felt called to return to work in healthcare. She enrolled in adult education classes at Ben Davis to gain her certification and, in just three months, passed her National Health Career Association exam.
In June of 2024, she joined the team at Hendricks Neurology as its receptionist. “I love working here,” said Iyore. “We have a great team, and I really enjoy meeting patients every day and talking to them on the phone.”
Iyore’s teammates are equally enthused about her. “Iyore has been a wonderful addition to the Neurology team,” said Leigh Ann Hawkins, the practice’s coordinator. “She is always smiling and has one of the most beautiful personalities.”
Her Neurology teammates were just as excited as Iyore was when she received the call in February that she earned her citizenship. “We are so proud of her,” said Leigh Ann. “She worked really hard for this.”
Iyore hopes her story will help inspire others who may be considering applying for citizenship. “You may find it difficult, but it’s worth it,” she said. “A lot of things will be easier for me now, like traveling to Nigeria. I want my husband and daughter to visit where I’m from.”
