13/10/25
This Black History Month 2025, marks the theme of Standing Firm in Power and Pride.
This month, the College are exploring themes of resilience, identity and pride within the emergency medicine sector. We dive into the histories of black medics’ part of the Windrush generation who were imperative to the creation of the NHS, focus on what our black members are doing right now to make their departments more inclusive and safer, and we look to what we can all do in the future to empower and influence the next generation.
Here, we have a story from Stephen Ojo, who is a EMSAS doctor. He reflects on some challenges and wins within his career whilst also ruminating on what he’s learnt in the process.
I started my NHS career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology as an International Medical Graduate (IMG Doctor), but at the time, formal training opportunities were limited for doctors who already had a few years of experience in the specialty. There were barriers to progression that felt immovable.
On the application website, you only need to click – Visa type and Year of experience and application is rejected. However, Emergency Medicine offered something different — a specialty that values experience, welcomes passion, and creates space for people to grow. This inclusive and forward-thinking culture in EM allowed me to thrive, not just clinically, but also in education and a little bit of research. I found that education, much like Emergency Medicine, is a fertile ground for growth. It enables one to pass on what you’ve learned, sometimes to light a fire in others, and to help shape a better future. It has allowed me to fuel my passion and make a meaningful impact on the next generation of clinicians.
One of my proudest moments came after a teaching session when a student approached me and said, “However you got here, I want to follow your path — what did you have to do” – something like this or similar words. I believe they had seen someone who looked like them, who taught with purpose and clarity, and who genuinely wanted them to succeed. That interaction reminded me that sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply be visible, approachable, and excellent in our roles. It was not soon after that I was called to deliver a graduation speech for graduating students at school of medicine. I felt honoured.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work across many areas in medical education — from designing and planning teaching sessions, to delivering hands-on simulation, to publishing academic work (mostly abstracts though) and contributing to educational leadership. My particular passion lies in innovation and digital education — using immersive learning, simulation, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI) to prepare learners for real-world clinical challenges. Being conferred the title of Honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham School of Medicine is something I value deeply. It’s not just a title — it represents years of effort, the trust of learners and colleagues, and the belief that someone like me can contribute meaningfully to the academic community. I specialise in simulation-based education and have led multiple simulation programmes to help make training more realistic, equitable, and impactful. I’m constantly working to improve how we use technology in simulation, making it more inclusive and reflective of real-life ED pressures, communication challenges, and clinical decision-making.
As I reflect during Black History Month, I am reminded that my journey has been shaped by both challenges and opportunities. I’m grateful for the people who have opened doors for me, and I hope to do the same for others. I just felt like sharing stories like mine is important because it helps highlight that excellence exists in all backgrounds — sometimes it just needs the right environment to shine. I remain a learner. I am still growing, still listening, and still working hard to improve. I am deeply thankful to every colleague, mentor, student, and friend who has been part of this journey. Your support has made a difference — and I carry it with me as I continue forward.