The HLA: The Ripple Effect

In this episode of The Ripple Effect, Olamide Oguntimetia, HLA Alumni and founder of Melanin Medics, shares her journey from medical student to council member of the GMC and the leadership lessons learned along the way. Olamide reflects on how Melanin Medics grew from a personal blog into a charitable organisation championing representation and support for Black African and Caribbean communities in the healthcare profession. She discusses the impact of The HLA Ideas programme in helping her scale the organisation, the challenges of leading a volunteer-driven team, and navigating imposter syndrome. At its core, her story highlights the power of community, mentorship, and strategic clarity in creating meaningful change within healthcare.

Podcast interview featuring The Healthcare Leadership Academy alumnus Zac Hassan, who details his path from medical registrar to an aspiring political candidate. Hassan explains that The HLA provided the courage, practical skills, and collaborative environment required to develop his side project, the "Healthy Discussions" podcast. He firmly asserts that medical professionals must venture beyond the hospital to translate their valuable clinical expertise into real influence over systemic health issues. Driven by this belief, Hassan shares his recent commitment to active party politics and his goal of standing for the Scottish Parliament to directly address policy failings and health inequality. Both Zac and Johann emphasise that The HLA serves as a supportive structure, offering a crucial networking hub and motivational framework for clinicians keen to lead change.

This podcast captures a retrospective interview with Eleanor Budge, an anesthetic registrar and former scholar of The Healthcare Leadership Academy (The HLA), discussing her professional trajectory since joining the programme in 2018. Budge describes how her early involvement in university leadership roles prepared her for The HLA, where she acquired vital non-technical and communication skills applicable to her clinical work. A major focus of the conversation is the enduring project she co-founded on Women in Healthcare Leadership, highlighting the challenges and long-term commitment required for impactful organisational change. She also details her involvement with Medics.Academy, including working with the Ethiopian Medical Women's Association to develop accessible medical leadership teaching. Ultimately, Budge emphasises that The HLA provides the network and experience necessary to build a fulfilling, diverse portfolio career that can adapt to different life stages.

In this episode of The HLA Ripple Effect podcast, physician and academic Brian Wang talks about his wide-ranging professional journey. Wang reflects on his medical training at Cambridge and Imperial, his three-year PhD in cardiovascular sciences, and his upcoming role as an Academic Clinical Fellow in cardiology at Oxford.

A significant part of the conversation centres on the creation and growth of Intermed School, a charity dedicated to widening participation and offering free mentorship to students aspiring to healthcare careers. Wang explains how his time as an HLA Scholar shaped his leadership abilities, particularly in strategic planning, volunteer recruitment, and the development of a sustainable organisational structure.

Throughout the interview, he highlights themes of self-reflection, honesty, and disciplined hard work as the foundations of his professional development. He also shares insights from his recent clinical placement in Jersey, where he worked as a cardiology fellow before beginning his specialist training.

Yammen Jabr, a rehabilitation medicine registrar and faculty member for The HLA, talks about his journey from an International Medical Graduate to his current role. Yamen explains that he joined The HLA early in his career to gain crucial training in separating leadership from management, a skill he found lacking in traditional clinical settings. The discussion outlines his shift from core surgical training to rehabilitation medicine, which he chose for its multidisciplinary focus and improved personal priorities regarding work and personal life. Furthermore, he celebrates The HLA’s growth, noting its successful expansion into virtual cohorts that now facilitate international participation from diverse healthcare professionals. Yamen asserts that The HLA provides a vital, open platform for clinicians to develop their skills, network, and exchange experiences globally.

This podcast features an interview with Axie Finch, who discusses her career progression and her experience with The HLA programme. She highlights the transformative impact of The HLA, particularly its role in encouraging her to advocate for patients and to challenge the status quo.

Axie recounts her early frustration as a medical student, feeling like a “tiny fish in a big ocean”, and how The HLA provided the structure and confidence to launch the successful 100 Word Project, a collaborative effort to redefine resilience in healthcare.

Ultimately, the conversation underscores The HLA’s core philosophy: cultivating leadership from below through consistent engagement, strong relationships among diverse peers, and the courage to pursue meaningful change. All principles that directly influenced Axie’s decision to specialise in geriatric medicine to better advocate for vulnerable patients.

Josephine Elliott, a paediatrician and former scholar from the third cohort of The Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA), reflects on her career journey and the impact of the programme. She recounts her initial reluctance to apply for The HLA, despite encouragement from a peer, because she felt unqualified. However, she explains how the programme significantly boosted her confidence and inspired her to pursue an Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF) in paediatric genetics.

Josephine also describes her project as a board assistant for the European Junior Doctors Association, an experience that offered valuable exposure to international collaboration and leadership. She highlights the importance of communication, humility, and negotiation skills developed through the HLA, which continue to play a vital role in her current clinical and research work focusing on rare genetic conditions such as Wolfram syndrome.

This podcast episode features an interview with Ifan Jenkin, a former scholar of the The Healthcare Leadership Academy. Ifan discusses his unconventional career path from medical school at Oxford, through early clinical training during the COVID-19 pandemic, and eventually to a master's programme in translational medicine at Stanford. He shares insights into his decision to move beyond traditional clinical medicine into the biotech and life sciences industry, his experiences with The HLA community, and the contrasting networking cultures between the UK and the US. The conversation highlights the value of The HLA for personal and professional growth, particularly for those pursuing diverse paths within healthcare.

This podcast episode features an interview with Ahmad Elmansouri, a former scholar of The HLA (Healthcare Leadership Academy) and co-founder of The HLA Listen podcast. The conversation explores Ahmad's journey through medicine, including his initial interest in surgery, his decision to pursue medical education and dermatology, and his experiences living and training across the UK. The discussion also highlights the value of near-peer mentorship, the importance of authentic leadership, and how podcasting has evolved as an educational tool and a platform for community building within the healthcare field.

This episode features an interview with David Williams, a former Healthcare Leadership Academy (HLA) scholar. The conversation explores Williams' varied career path, including experiences in physiotherapy, the armed forces, and local politics, highlighting his passion for service and leadership. He discusses his journey with The HLA, emphasising the value of its diverse community and the space it provided for personal and professional growth. Williams also candidly shares his recent mental health journey and ADHD diagnosis, reflecting on how understanding himself better has influenced his perspective. The discussion touches on the complexities of leadership within healthcare and the political landscape, advocating for ambition grounded in service and encouraging others to pursue their interests despite potential challenges.

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