Olalekan Ajayi: Inspired by Nigeria’s Passion for Advancing Cancer Care

Olalekan Ajayi, COO of Highlands Oncology Group, shared on LinkedIn:               .

“Inspired by Nigeria’s Passion for Advancing Cancer Care.

I recently returned from an impactful trip to Nigeria, focused on my Association of Cancer Care Centers (ACCC) theme of upskilling and building cancer care teams to deliver excellent cancer care. The trip was to see family but I was also given an opportunity to explore collaborations for workforce capacity building and connect with inspiring leaders.

Key highlights of this trip include a visit alongside the Women in Healthcare Network (WHICN) to the Medicaid Cancer Foundation founded by Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu who was an extremely gracious host. This organization is doing excellent work in meeting their vision of reducing cancer mortality through prevention and screening; attending the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare  initiative in creating a sustainable cancer registry that will form the foundation of future improvement work in cancer care through the National Institute of Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT).

Also had the honor of meeting with the Nigerian Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammad Ali Pate (who is a Duke alum and diehard Blue Devils fan) where we discussed the critical importance of workforce training for sustainable healthcare initiatives.

I extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Modupe Elebute-Odunsi , the founder and CEO of the Marcelle Ruth Cancer Center and Specialist Hospital and the chair/founder of the Women in Healthcare Network. Her remarkable vision and passion to advance cancer care in Nigeria are truly inspiring.

Dr. Odunsi will be joining a global panel of experts from around the world at the ACCC National Oncology Conference in Minneapolis in October to discuss, collaborate, and share their experiences in cancer care delivery. This panel will lay the groundwork for launching ACCC globally, leveraging its vast resources, 40,000 members, 1,700 cancer programs and 50 years of experience to upskill oncology professionals and facilitate the development cancer programs around the world. You don’t want to miss this event!

As the leading organization of its kind, ACCC is committed to empowering healthcare teams to provide exceptional cancer care. This trip has reaffirmed my belief in the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing to drive positive change in cancer care delivery across the globe.”

Source: Olalekan Ajayi/LinkedIn