Just like 2021, 2023 almost did not want to get a review… but as Christ is on the throne, a review must be done. So, here is a rundown of my year 2023.
To be honest, towards the end of 2023, I had already started collating this review in bits and pieces. But by the 31st of December, I was just too tired to put it all together and get it published. And by the time, we had transitioned into the new year, the ginger had reduced, and I really didn’t get the time within the 1st week of the year to get it done, so – typical me – I procrastinated. Lol.
I started the year 2023 away from home, had to drop off a family friend at the Manchester airport, head back to Liverpool, before getting back home on the 3rd of January. The first days of the month had me reflecting a lot, as I needed to clear the exam I carried over from 2022, which was what I did for most of the month. I retook the exams and got it right this time – thanks to my husband for his support and belief in me.
In January as well, I had an interesting conversation with my hairdresser… amazing the amount of wisdom you can get from those random, deep and intentional conversations at the salon. This time around, the hairdresser was half Ghanian, half Jamaican (earlier, I had met another Afro-Caribbean black hairdresser from St Vincent and the Grenadines. It was a whole new insight into life, different people’s way of life and how as black women of African descent – no matter where we are – we have similar experiences and more in common than we think of. Also, I got my MSc degree shipped home, to Lagos.
Ending of January into the beginning of February had me lol-ing at God’s huge sense of humour in the affairs of men. In a space of 1 week, my husband and I got the good news we’ve been looking forward to and lost it in the same breath. It was a turmoil of emotions. But by valentine’s day, I got some form of cute compensation from my husband, and by the end of February, we said goodbye to the east midlands and moved up north. In February as well, my mum clocked 60!
In the following month, as I tried to settle in our new vicinity, it was also my husband’s birthday, and he got a special get-away treat. During this process, we accommodated another family in our home and found a new home church to worship at as well. By April, my husband acquired a dream property, and passed his pending test. April was actually a fun month, were a lot happened. I booked my exam date, got my first physical interview for the role of a “Post Graduate Medical Education Administrator”, visited Azeezat for the birth of her baby girl, got awarded by our church in Northampton (Christ Apostolic Church, New Testament Assembly), visited Derby for the Easter party by Kunmi Ogunyemi, won a book from her as well, and changed program officer interns at SHI while preparing for our 3rd maternal health summit.
May was my wedding anniversary, for which I got a large bouquet of flower, my first ever. I also got another interview for the role of “Workforce Roster Coordinator”. Even though it didn’t go through, I was referred for another probable role. Also, in May, I won my first set of pounds (100GBP) for the best oral presentation on the MWAN Lagos Mentorship program at the MANSAG Educational Symposium. At this conference I met with great and important people. To be honest, May was a month of double blessing news all around me.
The happiness from May spilled into June, because my husband and I had our first vacation of the year, and it was beautiful. By the end of 2023 first half, I had embarked on the EMDEX contract to be the contributing editor/coordinator for their Rapid Rx database review and update (this opportunity was gotten via a colleague, Dr Ik of syncytium, and through this short period I was able to connect and work with consultants across different specialities for the update of diagnosis and treatment of common diseases managed in their speciality). I had received 2 awards and landed a couple of interviews for roles within the NHS non-clinical aspect.
The 2nd half of the year started as a bit of drag, but I got an interview for the role of “Transformation Manager” in my host NHS foundation trust. Also, from this interview interaction, I learnt a lot and fully came to the realisation that my lack of experience within the NHS might – or rather would – continue to pose a high risk of unsuccessful outcome in my job pursuit. Anyways, I didn’t let this deter me, as I continued to apply for roles I thought I’d fit into. Towards the end of July, I landed another interview for the “Head of Health” position at Innovate UK KTN and August – my birth month – came in bubbly.
For my birthday, we had a family and friends get-together at a fine dining with the Ajayi-Obe’s and the Okolie’s. I also got a whole new experience in my job interview journey. Lol. I attended an interview for the role of “Stakeholder Engagement Manager” at a neighbouring trust, and it was on a new level. It entailed providing workable answers to given tasks and drawing up a plan for a real-life scenario; by writing an action plan, make a convincing presentation about the plan and drafting a one-line summary advice. Eventually, I didn’t get the job. Not because I wasn’t qualified – usually according to them – but because I didn’t have the “NHS experience” needed to seamlessly settle into and navigate such high-level role (I actually had been interviewing for band 7/8 and senior level management roles).
For me, this was the last straw that broke the camel’s back, because all the feedback I had gotten from all interviewers were the same. Either I was overqualified for the roles applied for, or I was qualified but not selected because I didn’t have experience within the NHS. Hence, after having an in-depth discussion with Dr Pamela Ajayi, over my summer break to London, and she gave me the idea of having a “non-clinical attachment” to get the constantly required experience and common denominator in all my interviews… I decided to explore that path.
After this, I reached out to one of my multiple interviewers (Kerry Carroll) to request an observership role within her strategic directorate in the trust. However, she reached out to colleagues and worked out even a better plan for me to attach with the Operational Divisions and rotate through the various clinical departments. And I must say, the 8 weeks shadowing period I had between October and November was really eye-opening, and I could exactly appreciate why the “NHS experience” was usually emphasised upon. Also, in between this period, I took my exam. Even though preparing for it, while shadowing was a struggle, I overcame and emerged successful.
In September, I ended my tenure as the MWAN National Young Doctors Forum (YDF) Research and Grant Officer and received a national award of recognition from the MWAN National. I also got an interview for the role of “Programme Support Officer – Patient Portals” in my host NHS trust, and as usual, the feedback for why I didn’t get the job was the same. In November as well, I completed my 2-year tenure (i.e. 2021-2023 biennium) as the MWAN Lagos YDF Coordinator, successfully rounded up the 3rd cohort of the MWAN Lagos mentorship program, published the 2nd edition of the Amazons in Medicine Magazine, received an award of exemplary service and handed over the YDF baton to become the MWAN Lagos Newsletter Editor and Protocol Officer for the next biennium (2023-2025). By December, the holiday mood was around, and we had a joint family vacation with the Okolie’s.
Funnily enough, by the end of 2022, I had ideas of what my 2023 review title could be like. Reads something like, “2023: Of Banquet, conquest, bequest, bequeath and maybe, tempest”, lol. How I came up with these, when the year had not even started was beyond me. But I guess it did fit into some aspect of my 2023. Like, moving towns, visiting new cities (Doncaster, Nothingham and Shefield), getting and making myself a bouquet, hosting families, visiting the cinemas and sight-seeing after a long while away, gaming, vacationing and lodging in different places with the bae – across the northern part of the country (Cleethorpes, Cleckheaton, Leeds, Derby, Hull, Scarborough, Beverley, Lincoln). Personally, my favourite places visited and absolute “sights to behold” were the Beverley Minister, Cleethorpes beach, Lincoln Cathedral, Sea Life Scarborough, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds City Museum.
Likewise, asides names and families already mentioned in this review, other people that made my 2023 – in no particular order – included: Aleshinloye-King Oluwapelumi (my academic weapon and baddie), Dr Ibrahim Bolaji (a career mentor), The Abduls, My MWAN Lagos and National YDF teams, my AIM Magazine Editorial team, my SHI team, my Medical Mirror team, my sisters, my mothers and my ginger, friend and lover – my husband.
Also, some of my speaking engagements this year were for: World Press Freedom Day, Global Conference by Every Woman Treaty, Maternal and Child Health Advocacy training, Skrind Health-tech Launch for Mobile app and Self-test kits, Effective Communication for Medical Professionals, Postpartum Depression: Its Assessment and Management, and AMSUL Annual Scientific Conference as a Maternal Health Abstract Presentation Judge and Abstract Presentations at MANSAG Educational Symposium and MWAN Lagos biennial conference.
Lessons and Highlights of 2023
I started making hair again. For me, I realised that going to get my hair done or making peoples hair is therapeutic and provides me some form of good exposure or interaction with other people’s way of life.
No matter how far from home you are, you can still build capacity and make impact in people’s lives back home – or wherever, or at whatever point you find yourself. Either by sharing knowledge, experiences, opportunities, using your skills for people, connecting people across your network or supporting people’s vision towards achieving their dreams in all ramifications. Personally, I was able to provide information and guidance to young doctors who got placement into their preferred master’s program and residency program in Nigeria, as well as other career paths and options. Everything doesn’t always have to be about money.
Delay is not denial. Despite the outcomes of all the interviews I had in 2023, I saw each interview as an experience gathering session and consolidated everything picked up during the process to make me better for the next opportunity. Again, the amount of knowledge and cues you can get from these interviews, can propel you closer to your eventual dream job. And just like I was constantly getting the “I’m afraid, we won’t be going with you at this time… the other person who will be taking up the role just had one point above you, which is their NHS experience or ability to relate to actual real-life occurrences within the system or put current issues within the trust in perspective…” response, if you do, don’t be downcast. But take it as a step closer to the job made for you.
My father would often say, “if they don’t employ you, how will you get the experience they are asking about…”, but a way senior colleague with over 30years experience in the NHS would say, “it’s their loss if they don’t employ you; they would have benefited more if they had decided to take a chance on you and invest in you… Don’t worry, the right one will come along”. However, through all these, I also take solace in my husband’s encouragement and belief in me.
Always apply yourself. Volunteer to do things for people to build your skills and get into places. For instance, I started volunteering to assist or join colleagues in writing their papers. I opted for making hair (at no charge) for friends and teenagers around me. I also started teaching kids in church again. Do not be idle, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. And whatsoever your hands find to do, do it with all your might and to the best of your ability.
As my mother would often say “aile soro, ibere oriburuku ni” – paraphrased and loosely translated as, “A closed mouth is a closed destiny”. So, always ask about opportunities open and speak about what you do in places and to people that matter. Ask questions for clarifications always.
Finally, 2023 was a year of many emotions, experiences and occurrences… I had my falls, wins, cries, laughs, stumbling and standing up… but in all I am grateful for life, grace, love, people – family and friends. I hope 2024 is better with more good news.
Keep basking in the love and light of God,
Oluwakemisola A. A.
30/04/2024
KemK The Great 