Discover another inspiring Emerging Leader story… Kamilu Karaye, a member of the 2014 cohort, shares his experience.
As a young boy, I was first inspired by the zeal to treat the sick and help others. Definitely, my first motivation was my father, who always believed in me and encouraged me. He taught us to always think of others, to be disciplined and strive for excellence. Because of him, my main challenges were my studies.
While in medical school at the University of Jos, Nigeria, I was tutored by many hardworking and excellent physicians, but I was highly impressed by the late Prof FI Anjorin, a cardiologist with a sound clinical acumen. At the Imperial College London between 1998 and 1999, I received more inspiration from some of the best Cardiologists I have ever met in the persons of the late Prof Philip Poolewilson, Prof Andrew Coats and Prof Michael Henein. The latter supervised my MSc and PhD theses and has remained my main mentor in my professional career. I have also been mentored by 2 other Nigerians, Professors Basil Okeahialam and Abdulrazaq Habib at both personal and professional levels.
I later on met Prof Karen Sliwa, a lady with impeccable character and judgement, who introduced me to the Emerging Leaders Programme and perhaps the most successful cardiologist with abundant humility, Prof Salim Yusuf. The two of them were my main sources of inspiration in the EL programme, and have further shaped my research interests. As a participant in the first ever EL seminar held in Canada in 2014, I met several other highly enthusiastic and intelligent colleagues with whom I still collaborate. The EL seminar and programme provide participants with the best opportunity to join hands to curb the menace of cardiovascular disease in the world. I strongly recommend it! Thank you Prof Salim Yusuf for this great innovation!
