Dr. Olamide Oguntimehin Kanyinsola set up the ‘Melanin Medics’ blog whilst being in a UK Medical School.  Her motivation stemmed from a personal struggle during her own application process, where she found a lack of platforms offering support and guidance specifically tailored to Afro-Caribbean students.

Determined to bridge this gap, Olamide seized the opportunity to create a resource that would empower and uplift young individuals of Afro-Caribbean descent, inspiring them to recognize their potential and pursue careers in medicine with confidenc and ensure that prospective medical students have the support they need in order to pursue a career in medicine.

“In my Medical School, roughly 10/270 students come from Afro-Caribbean descent, that’s less than 4% and the honest truth is that this isn’t enough. I want to encourage those who want to apply for Medicine that they truly can succeed and it isn’t too hard.” – Olamide Dada

Her journey to Medical School is a unique one, be sure to check out her story in ‘The One That Got Away’. Olamide hopes that ‘Melanin Medics’ will inspire people all around the world, celebrating the achievements of Afro-Caribbean doctors and encouraging prospective and current medical students.

Olamide received the Rare Rising Star Award at the House of Commons having been recognised as one of the Top 10 Black students in the UK. She was also recognised as one of the Top 100 Future Leaders 2018 and welcomed to No.10 Downing Street as a result.

She was also named as a recipient for the Akindolie Medical Scholarship awarded to minority ethnic medical students with strong leadership potential.

Olamide is also an alumnus the Healthcare Leadership Academy, Fellow of the Institute of Leadership & Management and sits on the GMC Equality and Diversity advisory board as a member.

She is also passionate about racial equality, leadership, widening participation and promoting good health behaviours particularly amongst minority groups.

In a medical landscape where Afro-Caribbean representation is disproportionately low, Olamide is resolute in her mission to dispel misconceptions and encourage aspiring students that success is indeed attainable and continues to nurture a community where their ambitions are  supported.