Ola Orekunrin
| Orekunrin Olamide | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1986 or 1987 London |
| Nationality | British-Nigerian |
| Fields | medicine |
| Alma mater | Hull York Medical School |
| Known for | First Air-operated Emergency Medical Service in West Africa |
Olamide Orekunrin is a British-Nigerian medical doctor and Managing director of Flying Doctors Nigeria; a charity based in Lagos, Nigeria[1][2]
Early Life and Education
Ola was born in London, England and grew up under the care of foster parents in Lowestoft. Her name “Ola” means “Wealth” in Yoruba.[3] Ola graduated from Hull York Medical School at the age of 21, becoming one of the youngest medical doctors in the United Kingdom.[4]
Medical career
After graduation, Olamide worked for ten years with the National Health Service, United Kingdom. As a helicopter pilot with specialised training in aviation medicine, she pioneered the first air operated Emergency medical services in Lagos, Nigeria; Flying Doctors Nigeria Ltd. She was motivated to start the charity after experiencing the loss of her sister under difficult circumstances. She was also inspired to assuage the problems of emergency medical services in the Nigeria. Undaunted by difficult challenges, she successfully established Flying Doctors in Lagos, Nigeria in 2007 and she is currently the CEO.[5][6][7] Ola is a member of both the American Academy of Aesthetic Surgeons and the British Medical Association. She was listed among Young Global leaders by World Economic Forum in 2013[8][9][10] Ola has also lectured on entrepreneurship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[2]
Controversy
Ola has been accused of trying to get free NHS treatment costing £45,425 for a gas worker who suffered severe burns in an explosion in Nigeria at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. She told the General Medical Council tribunal that she had told a QEH doctor that the burns victim was to be treated as a private patient but said that he ‘misunderstood or misremembered our conversation’.[11]
References
- ↑ Ebele Orakpo (August 29, 2013). "Regenerative medicine will drastically change lives". The Vanguard (Nigeria). Retrieved May 2014.
- 1 2 Renni Edo-Lodge (September 12, 2014). "Nigeria’s air ambulance firm is a leap forward for healthcare". The Guardian (United Kingdom). Retrieved May 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Ola:the meaning of the name". Newkerala.
- ↑ "How Ola Orekunrin became a doctor at age 21 and went on to found West Africa’s first air ambulance service". CP Africa. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ↑ "Flying doctors founder Ola Orekunrin just keeps soaring". Konnect Africa. Retrieved May 2014.
- ↑ Teo Kermeliotis. "The Flying doctors saving lives in Nigeria". CNN. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- ↑ Sember Azzez Harris. "Flying Doctors Nigeria-Interview with Doctor Ola Orekunrin". Knowledge Fountain. Retrieved May 2014.
- ↑ "Ola Orekunrin;Managing Director:The Flying Doctors". World Economic Forum. Retrieved May 2014.
- ↑ "England's Youngest Doctor Becomes Nigeria’s Flying Doctor (Dr Ola Orekunrin)".
- ↑ Nkanrenyi Ukonu (May 27, 2012). "How I became a doctor at 21-Ola Orekunrin". The Punch. Retrieved May 2014.
- ↑ "Exposed: The foreign doctors milking the NHS for drugs... to send to their families back home". Daily Mail. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.