“Keep pushing and nothing will stop you!” – Dr Ayodeji Lawani shares her story on International Women’s Day
Published: 8th March 2024
International Women's Day is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women in all sectors, including healthcare. Women have played a crucial role in the medical field, from providing direct patient care to conducting research and advocating for improved policies.
We recently caught up with one of our international female trainees, Dr Ayodeji Lawani, to learn all about her remarkable transcontinental journey in pursuit of a GP dream.
The plane touched down on the Heathrow runway with a gentle thud, and the sounds of the engines faded. Ayodeji had reached her destination; new unchartered territory awaited…
“I came alone. It was hard. I used to cry every night, and I missed my family.” It was 13 January 2023, when Nigerian-born Canadian Ayodeji made the long, solo journey to the UK.
Leaving behind her husband and two children in Canada, the first few weeks adapting to life in East Anglia were tough.
The support of her placement, notably her training programme directors (TPDs) Dr Samir Pai, Dr Andrew Hall and Dr Lena Farruggio, helped to gradually ease the burden of a ‘life changing’ transition, ensuring a smooth induction phase into the programme.
“My immediate family live and work in Saskatchewan, Canada,” Ayodeji explained. “I have a 14-year-old and an 8-year-old. My husband wasn’t ready to move at that time, but he wholeheartedly supported my career pursuit and has held the home front in my absence.
“After living in Canada for over 10 years, I was taking a journey into the unknown. Initially it was rough and lonely, but it didn’t seem right uprooting them from their life and school to come to Ipswich when we didn’t know how long it would be for.
“Integration was hard. The lead GP advisor, Ms Claire Hunt, facilitated a temporary hospital accommodation at doctor’s mess to stay at when I arrived. That helped a lot - especially with initial finances and hassles of settling in - as well as the support and lasting friendships from the big Nigerian and Ghanaian doctor community in the area.”
There are so many inspirational women that are catalysts for change, sources of strength and resilience, and beacons of hope and inspiration.
It was someone Ayodeji held dearly who was a key figurehead in ensuring she always aspired to reach her goals, right from the infancy of her medical career.
“I did my first training in Canada in occupational medicine for around three years, but I’ve always wanted to be a GP, and there were no openings at home for it.
“My late mum was a big part of my medical journey. She knew I always wanted to be a GP. She kept nudging me on and always believed in me, which played a big part in my decision to move to England.
“Sadly, my mum died two months into the start of my training in April 2023 which set me back into a series of depressive episodes, but I had the unflinching support of my then paediatric rotation clinical supervisor, Dr Prathiba Pai, and clinical lead, Dr Lauren Filby.
“I also admire Michelle Obama as an epitome of a strong black woman helping to pave the way for younger generations to pursue their goals and aspirations, but my biggest cheerleader and resource was always my mum.”
Ayodeji is currently one month into an integrated training post (ITP) rotation where her days are split between community psychiatry - where she continues to be supported educationally by her psychiatry consultants Dr V. Agarwal, Dr J. Easow and Dr K Saeed - and working at the local GP surgery.
The fantastic work she is undertaking daily is also being supplemented with an ongoing diploma, all of which is aiding her professional and personal ambitions for the future.
“I have found the variation in rotations tremendously helpful; I always use the first couple of weeks to blend in and understand my responsibilities. The placements are helping with my end plan to be a GP with special interest in dermatology.
“I’m also currently completing a diploma in dermatology from the University of Ireland which I will complete in May this year. I wouldn’t have achieved this without the ongoing support I get at my Trust; I couldn’t ask for a better place to do my training.
“I want to give back to NHS and the system that offered me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to my family hopefully moving to the UK this year so we can all be together before my training is complete.”
Ayodeji’s admirable appetite for success is reaping its rewards. Her advice for other female medical trainees, no matter what your speciality, is simple but true to life.
“Go for it!” Ayodeji said with smile beaming from ear to ear.
“If you really want to pursue your career, you should not hold back. The journey is never smooth and straight especially as a woman, because there are so many factors we face, for example if you want to start a family, hormonal changes and basically life happens!
“It’s understandable to take a break and then get back into the hustle to better yourself. Age doesn’t matter, limitations are only temporary, and the only thing permanent in life is change.
“Keep pushing and nothing will stop you!”
Good luck to Ayodeji with the rest of your training. For more information about International Women's Day 2024, click here!