"The thing about it, my journey to date, is that I always like to tell the story to encourage others in the sense that, achieving success, or, (let me) take it back: fulfilling your dream, your vision, it comes with a lot of obstacles, with trials, with stumbling blocks. You have to make up your mind, see where you are going...not that I'm saying that it's easy, or there won't be some points that you won't feel weak, but you just keep going. You can't afford to give up. Along the way I have seen the impact of my experience, being able to tell it, I've been able to encourage others."
Continuing to celebrate International Womens' Month, I chat with Chief Biomedical Scientist and Virologist Bamidele Farinre about her career within the field of sciences so far. Bami talks about how, against all the odds, she broke into her profession. We chat about the vital role of biomedical sciences and discuss how being a BAME scientist encourages young women to consider the sciences, and why she is also a big advocate of STEM and The WISE Campaign. We banter in Yorùbá, and compare our educational notes growing up in Nigeria. Bami also demystifies the labs you see on TV to what the reality is. We also talk about whose blood she would very much like to analyse. And of course, we talk about the quote that continually inspires her.
Bamidele is the Chief Biomedical Scientist for (DHSE -UKHSA Covid-19 Mobile Processing Units (MPUs) at the London Medical Lab (LML). Responsible for training and development of biomedical scientists, associate practitioners, and medical lab assistants to perform and manage the analysis of COVID-19 swab samples using RT-LAMP technology. Bamidele has worked across different organisations in the healthcare sector; Hammersmith Hospital, Clinical Biochemistry dept, St .Georges Hosp Tooting, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH), Public Health England (PHE) now known as UK Health Security Agency, and Viapath Analytics LLP in the position of Operations Lead as part of the National Testing Programme requirements to implement local COVID-19 laboratories. She has been instrumental in leading, designing and implementing the June Almeida Lab based in the Franklin Wilkins Building, Waterloo London. This was a collaborative project between Kings College London and Viapath Analytics LLP. Using her knowledge and skills in molecular virology she has ensured that good laboratory processes and training were implemented throughout this project. Bamidele is a member of the IBMS Virology Advisory Panel group. This panel play an important role in the work of the IBMS including the setting of the Congress Scientific programmes and updating the IBMS qualifications including the HSD. Bamidele is a WISE campaign role model for ‘My Skills My Life’, inspiring the Future STEM ambassador, Mentor, Freedom to Speak Up ambassador, British Science Association (BSA) Crest award assessor, IBMS CPD officer and a Freedom to Speak-Up Ambassador. She’s featured on many platforms and her commitment to her profession has been acknowledged. Some of her accomplishments included; Nominated for COVID Unsung Heroes Awards, 2 categories (WISE New Educator and WISE Responsive Hero Award, and Winner, Champion of Biomedical Science Award 2019 for the IBMS London Region. Finalist in The Pathologist’s 2019 “Trailblazers” Power List, Finalist Women in IT Excellence Awards category: Role Model of the year 2019, Finalist for The Academy for Healthcare Science award for Inspiring the healthcare science workforce of t
Thanks for listening to the episode. I'd like to thank my guest for their time, insight and being a great sport!
I would also like to thank my producer, Ashanti Omkar, for all her hard work.
If you'd like to be a guest, drop me a line at theswingingpalmtree@gmail.com.
Keep Rising & Thriving. Aṣẹ!
