Healthcare inequality is one of the most pressing issues we face globally today. As a neurosurgeon born in Nigeria but working in Cincinnati, USA, I’m acutely aware of these disparities. I believe that business has an important role to play in helping us tackle this problem. And in this blog, I’ll be explaining how the Executive MBA is equipping me with the skills to improve healthcare outcomes for patients with neurological disorders in West Africa.
It’s a sobering fact: in West Africa, a stroke is often tantamount to a death sentence. Meanwhile, in many other parts of the world, mortality rates are decreasing due to improved care, better treatment, and awareness of the symptoms. This is an issue I feel very strongly about – I was raised in Nigeria and feel a deep personal connection to the continent.
As a neurosurgeon, I’ve seen first-hand how timely and skilled intervention can change the course of a patient’s life. In Nigeria, access to such care is limited, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality for conditions that, in other parts of the world, would be treatable. This is particularly true for stroke, which remains a leading cause of death and disability in the country. The need for comprehensive stroke care and neurosurgical intervention is urgent.
I decided that action was needed and that’s how I first came up with the idea of a neurological center of excellence in West Africa four years ago. Since then, I’ve been working with a multi-disciplinary team on the development of the center to provide world-class patient care. The new center will also serve as a major research hub and train the next generation of surgeons, neurologists and healthcare professionals. My hope is that this center will have a transformative impact on neurological care in Nigeria.
From the outset, it was clear that creating a meaningful impact with this project would require not only medical expertise but also a deep understanding of the business forces shaping healthcare. I believe that innovative business strategies can serve as powerful catalysts, driving positive transformation within healthcare systems. And that’s what led me to the Oxford Executive MBA.
I believe that innovative business strategies can serve as powerful catalysts, driving positive transformation within healthcare systems.
A business school with a difference
Saïd Business School stood out for its distinctive educational approach. The School is not simply focused on business education but also on fostering leaders who can tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. And that’s what appealed to me.
The Executive MBA at Oxford has played a significant role in shaping my vision for the center. It has allowed me to hone my leadership, strategy, and management skills – essential for launching and sustaining an initiative of this scale.
The mentorship from faculty members has been invaluable. For example, Tim Galpin, Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation, taught me that it’s vital to think about strategy in the right contexts. This has prompted me to think more deeply about the cultural, political and economic dimensions in my strategic planning.
Alan Morrison, who leads the ethics course, highlighted the critical importance of ethical leadership in business. This has encouraged me to think longitudinally about how we build something on this scale while ensuring that people are paid fairly and the supply chain is managed in an ethical way. These insights have guided my strategic thinking.
Invaluable advice and guidance from my study peers
Currently, we’re in the advanced planning stages for the new center – assessing the viability of sites in West Africa and investigating funding options. It is a huge challenge, requiring regular visits to Africa to oversee progress in my role as founder and CEO of the center.
We’ve brought together a team of specialists in neurosurgery, neurology, neurosciences primary care, public health, and non-healthcare professionals (with experience in finance, operations and strategic management) to turn our ideas into reality.
My Executive MBA peers have offered invaluable advice and support through this strategic phase. Their insights into the local business climate have proved instrumental in shaping plans for the new center. Additionally, their guidance on joint venture formation and financing strategy has helped us set up effective partnership structures – ensuring the future sustainability of the center. My peers have also introduced me to helpful business contacts who are supporting us with the project.
The transformative journey through the program has been incredible. The program has helped me forge a new path as the founder and CEO of the new center and enabled me to re-evaluate what I can accomplish in the field of healthcare.
Harnessing my business skills for social good
We’re facing many cultural, economic and political challenges with this project, including a constrained capital market. This has made access to financing more difficult. Additionally, local expertise in neurosurgery and advanced neurosciences is limited so we’ve had to focus heavily on training.
Understanding the cultural nuances of doing business in Nigeria has been crucial. Building relationships, navigating bureaucracy and managing expectations requires deep cultural insights and adaptability. Access to reliable energy, particularly green energy, is another challenge. Tackling these issues is drawing directly on the knowledge and insights I’ve learned from the Oxford Executive MBA.
The transformative journey through the program has been incredible. The program has helped me forge a new path as the founder and CEO of the new center and enabled me to re-evaluate what I can accomplish in the field of healthcare.
I can’t wait to move to the next stage of development and deliver on our goal of improving healthcare outcomes for patients across West Africa.
