Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“This morning, I opened an email from a colleague. She’s an oncology specialist registrar. The words I found stopped me in my tracks.
It was an International Women’s Day message.
And it brought tears to my eyes.
In medicine, particularly in oncology, the days can be long and emotionally heavy. We move quickly from clinic to MDT to ward rounds. We focus on the next patient, the next decision, the next challenge. Often, we do the work quietly, without stopping to realise the impact we might be having on the people around us.
But today I was reminded of something powerful.
Sometimes the things we give, our time, encouragement, advocacy, mentorship, compassion, come back to us in ways we never expect.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain”, resonates deeply with me.
Throughout my career I have tried to give what I could.
- To give my voice to conversations about equity in cancer care.
- To give my energy to improving outcomes for underserved communities.
- To give encouragement and support to colleagues and trainees navigating the complexities of oncology.
- And to give my whole heart to the patients who trust us with their lives.
What I rarely pause to consider is what comes back.
Today it came back in the form of a thoughtful message from a colleague who said that when they are trying to focus their efforts, they sometimes ask themselves: “What would Bookie do?”
I cannot fully describe how humbling that felt.
Not because it centres on me, but because it shows something important about leadership in medicine. Leadership is not about titles or positions. It is about the quiet influence we have on each other every single day.
The conversations in corridors.
The encouragement after a difficult clinic.
The reminder of why this work matters.
If there is one thing I am reflecting on today, it is this:
You never know who is watching.
You never know who is learning from you.
And you never know when the seeds you plant through kindness, courage or conviction will grow in someone else.
So today, I celebrate all the incredible women across the world with special focus on those I work alongside in oncology and across healthcare.
Keep giving…
Your voice.
Your mentorship.
Your courage.
Your compassion.
Because sometimes, when you least expect it, those gifts find their way back to you.
Happy International Women’s Day.”
Other articles featuring Olubukola Ayodele on OncoDaily.