Bristol students join prestigious health leadership programme

After completing a rigorous selection process Taiwo Oki and Aimee Wilkinson were picked from 1,800 applicants to join the 2021/22 cohort of the Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA) Scholars programme.

Founded in 2016, the HLA aims to inspire and support healthcare students and professionals to change the world of healthcare through leadership – and gives them the training to do so.

Taiwo Oki is a final year medical student with a passion for outreach work and medical education. She co-founded BME Medics, which strives to improve diversity within healthcare through research, advocacy and widening participation initiatives.

She is the current Equality Diversity and Inclusion representative for GP Society, and Outreach and Programmes Director for BME Medics.

Taiwo said: “I am blessed to have been chosen for this programme and to be a part of the Bristol cohort this upcoming year. I am excited to further develop my leadership style and be surrounded by like-minded individuals in the world of healthcare.”

Aimee Wilkinson is a final year medical student with an interest in academic surgery. She is the elected Europe Representative for the Association of Women Surgeons Medical Student Committee and the co-founder of Bristol University’s Women in Surgery Society.

Aimee said: “I am grateful to have been selected for this year’s HLA scholar programme. It is my hope that this experience will impart valuable leadership skills that allow me to build upon the remarkable achievements of previous scholars.”

Scholars are expected to develop a community project over the course of the one-year programme. Previous projects have reached national prominence: winning prizes, publications and presentations at national events including at the House of Lords.

Speaking about this year’s cohort, Johann Malawana, Director of the HLA, said: “We are delighted to welcome Taiwo and Aimee to our 2021-2022 scholars.

“The pandemic has reinforced the need for leaders who inspire, listen and care. At a time of great global challenge, it is important that the next generation of healthcare leaders are motivated, inspired, and prepared in order to best look after the populations they serve.

“We look forward to seeing what this generation of Scholars achieve with the platform they are given through the HLA and its community.”