IMGUK Podcast

About IMGUK Podcast

Home of the IMGUK Podcast where I try to chronicle the stories of immigrants to the NHS. Join me in unravelling these stories of these amazing people and their families.

Publisher

Asadullah Anees Khan

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Oct 2021

Latest episode

30 Dec 2021

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Dec 2021

   Episode 8 - Buea, Cameroon

   As I end my trip to my homeland, I would like to introduce Episode 8 with Dr. Ben-Lawrence Kemah, one of my old friends and someone who enjoys deep intellectual journeys as much as I do. Back in 2017, we would’ve been easily found exploring the commonalities in our cultures and our religions and debating topics while working on our portfolios till late at night. Two boys, from Buea and Lahore working towards their respective dreams of becoming surgeons. While I found my calling elsewhere, Ben stuck with surgery and is now on his way to completing his training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology with a subspeciality interest in GynaeOncology. We sat down 4 years from when we first met and talked about the reliance on constants at home, intellectual freedom, how life resembles a sine wave, the imperfections of the world around us… while staying true to our shared mantra of finding meaning in the lows because the highs are not far behind. Or in his own words: “My name is Ben and I am from Buea; a small mountain side town in Cameroon, West/Central Africa. It could take you under 7 hours to walk the entire length of the town but perhaps 7 lifetimes to describe this town and what it means to me – It bears my baby steps and it was on its soils that I dreamed by my first dream and set forth to conquer the world in a journey which has led me to the Birmingham, UK so far. Buea fans out from foot of the majestic volcanic mount Fako; the home of the mythical “Epassa Moto”; the deity of the indigenous people of the town/village. Eternally edged in my memory are some of the most beautiful sunrise and sunsets as the mountain dances before of the sun but also, countless legendary tales about this mountain. Due to its gentle, refreshing and extremely conducive climate, both German and British colonial settlers established their capitals in Buea, the heart of the English speaking regions of Cameroon – The town is still littered with architectural remnants of British but mostly German colonisation in the form of administrative buildings and bridges dating from the 18th century. I never really left Buea for any protracted period of time as I completed every level of education there so I have no other real memories that compare with the nostalgia that haunts me almost daily now that I have left home. I had some of the best laughs and fondest memories in Buea and some of the greatest human connections I ever made started and are very much left in Buea. I think about my life as I often do, about the journey so far but I also think about what the future may look like; I think about my own child, and the fact that for them Buea will be someplace else and the fact that one thing we may never be able to share is Buea or be linked to it in the same – To them, home will be someplace else but for me, home will always be Buea; my level playing field, a place free of prejudice and self-doubt.” Ben is also one of the founders and current CEO of HERO Cameroon – a non-profit organisation that seeks to increase public health awareness by supporting and conducting non-partisan health and product research, capacity building, project evaluation and informational activities. They can be found at the following links: Official website: https://herocameroon.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/herocameroon?s=11 Instagram: https://instagram.com/hero_cameroon?utm_medium=copy_link Please like/share/subscribe to the official links: Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AsadullahAneesKhan Official blog: www.imgukpodcast.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imgukpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/imgukpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imgukpodcast/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imguk-podcast/id1588473403 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lxoVSB2Hiu1FMEiu6zmDq?si=441d0796f7f340ac

2. 

   21 Dec 2021

   Episode 7 - Cairo, Egypt

   After a much deserved break where I came back home to see my parents for the first time in this pandemic, I'm delighted to introduce the next episode, focusing on a city that has been one of the bedrocks of civilization and the largest in the Arab world - Cairo. My friend Dr. Hagar Aly is an anaesthetic trainee in the NHS and you can find her around theatres or intensive care, serving at the frontline and looking after the sickest patients, exuding calm with her Harry Potter scrub cap tied firm. We talked about finding friends in the land you adopt, becoming a dog person, finding allies without knowing it, cultural cheat codes and the social pressure on being excluded. The story of an immigrant need not be filled with allies from our own shared experiences only, there are others who can step up and be lights in our darkness. This was a really moving episode where we also explored the Egyptian revolution and talked about forgoing your reality, political unrest and losing loved ones. I asked Hagar to write down what she felt about her journey so far and this is what she had to say: "Gosh ! Being an immigrant. You can argue that I am always a bit of an outsider so it was easy for me to blend into the role of being a wall flower at best, but I admit i still struggle with the expectation that being an immigrant I should always be aiming to please, often at the expense of my own free time and mental health. The assumption that you have to work harder to "catch up" even though many of us have quite advanced clinical skills makes one permanently exhausted and renders one in a state of perpetual questioning of the value of of the gains against the sacrifices. I miss home, but I am also fully aware that my version of home barely exists anymore , with so many forced to leave and so many quick changes. your memories of home and what it means to one but i think we are all constantly running the risk of our memories fading by the minute and becoming ever more blurry. But in my mind, the more I'm here, the more I can work on a new small but valuable life that can give me a home away from home :)" Please like/share/subscribe to the official links: Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AsadullahAneesKhan Official blog: www.imgukpodcast.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imgukpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/imgukpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imgukpodcast/ Podcast links: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/auakhan Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imguk-podcast/id1588473403 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lxoVSB2Hiu1FMEiu6zmDq?si=441d0796f7f340ac

3. 

   19 Nov 2021

   Episode 6 - Tulcea, Romania

   I am pleased to introduce Episode 6, a deep dive into the journey of a powerhouse guest – Dr. Cristina Costache, ST3 Paediatrics in Yorkshire but originally from a city in Northern Dobruja, Romania called Tulcea. We spoke about our “easy journeys”, the heroic supporting cast in our stories, of belonging and the care we want to provide our patients with a healthy dash of premature babies and what it meant to be the daughter of a sailor thrown in. Like me, English is not Cristina’s first language. But her accent is as British as they come – the reason why this came to be was educational and a bit sad to talk about. As immigrants, we are not always accepted as who we are until we conform to a certain narrative – as much as I wish we did not have to strive so much to belong. These words are tinged with sadness given the events of this week in the world of sport. But enough of me talking, lets hear what she has to say: “I have no roots, I am the daughter of a sailor and I guess I never had roots, it just took a leap of faith to allow myself to fly. My home is in people, in feelings, fragrances, hurt, love, and smiles. In passion, in teams that I worked or have worked with, in shared memories. I live in a braid of memories and dreams, always aiming higher than I can reach, which is not always good. I'm a wanderer, but my love and missing are deep as the sea. We live under the same moon, under the same sun with lands connected by the same breezes and waters. Therefore, even without the technology we are never truly apart. Always and never alone. I belong here, even though I don't. I never belonged anywhere, other than in my parents' nest. Will I ever build roots? Will I ever belong? Maybe, but even if I don't that's ok. Don't be afraid of wanderers, don't hate them we are all the consequences of our decisions and life occurrences. And sometimes maybe, just maybe our solitude might just be an armour that can be broken down with friendship.” Please like/share/subscribe to the official links: Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AsadullahAneesKhan Official blog: www.imgukpodcast.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imgukpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/imgukpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imgukpodcast/ Podcast links: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/auakhan Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imguk-podcast/id1588473403 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lxoVSB2Hiu1FMEiu6zmDq?si=441d0796f7f340ac

4. 

   5 Nov 2021

   Episode 5 - Hyderabad, Pakistan

   Welcome to Episode 5, Hyderabad. This is a very special episode for me because this is the first (of many) episodes with an immigrant who is an NHS consultant Dr. Raja Adnan Ahmed who has been pivotal as a source of motivation to me while I was trying to formulate this project. We sat down and talked about his memory of a childhood full of love, laughter, Sindhi Biryani and Sindhari Mango trees in a quiet but alluring city near the banks of the River Indus. Hyderabad translates to “City of Lions” in Urdu, rich with a history of sufism and tales of courage, famous for its cool summer evenings, fertile land and friendly people. Dr. Raja Adnan Ahmed is a Consultant Psychiatrist who came to the UK in 2005. He chose to make Wales his home because of his love for nature and running. He can be found completing 10ks regularly around the UK, climbing mountains with gastroenterologists and guiding junior doctors towards Psychiatry as well as providing a beacon of support for IMGs via his Facebook page and Youtube channel. His humility was what struck me the most ever since the time I have had the pleasure of knowing him. Life will give all of us varying levels of success, the important thing is never to forget where you came from – his insistence to remain true to his roots and his relatability make him a worthy mentor for others. We talk about all things that immigrants have to go through such as impostor syndrome, the awkwardness of greeting others in your own cultural parlance, lack of a support system in an alien land, visa problems and end up with his advice to the next generation. During this entire conversation, Adnan bhai kept smiling as he usually does but the widest smile was reserved for when he talked about his children. Please watch the episode to hear his story. It has been an honour to bring this to you all. Please like/share/subscribe to the official links: Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AsadullahAneesKhan Official blog: www.imgukpodcast.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imgukpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/imgukpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imgukpodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/imgukpodcast/) Podcast links: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/auakhan (https://anchor.fm/auakhan) Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imguk-podcast/id1588473403 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imguk-podcast/id1588473403) Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lxoVSB2Hiu1FMEiu6zmDq?si=441d0796f7f340ac

5. 

   29 Oct 2021

   Episode 4 - Islamabad, Pakistan

   Meet Dr. Usama Basit, an A&E registrar on #TeamSouth but currently travelling the North of England to get a taste of the good life. We got to know each other through Twitter (the power of social media) and bonded over our shared love for meeting new people and telling stories. In this episode, he tells me (and himself) the importance of focusing on the journey over the destination, the value of honesty in life and we extolled the virtues of the 'chacha' who fixed everything wrong for an extra 500 rupees. He also dabbles in blogging at https://themaddocblogs.com/ Or as he puts it: "Islamabad. The capital of Pakistan, and of my heart. How I miss it, its well-thought-out and planned sectors; the roll parathas of Munchies'; the cheese naan at Monal; the long drives; the greenery; the view on a rainy day with the Margalla Hills as a backdrop - what do I miss the most? Is it the place? Or the people? Or the memories? I think it is a combination of all three. And the fact that in Isloo, everyone knows everyone. You can not go to a wedding and just know the hosts, you will run into your school buddies. You can not go to the barber or for a coffee without meeting your neighbours or your juniors. And you will find the rest of them either at Daman-e-koh or Centaurus. That is what I miss most about Islamabad. The feeling of belonging. Of home." Please like/share/subscribe to the official links: Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AsadullahAneesKhan Official blog: www.imgukpodcast.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imgukpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/imgukpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imgukpodcast/ Podcast links: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/auakhan Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imguk-podcast/id1588473403 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lxoVSB2Hiu1FMEiu6zmDq?si=441d0796f7f340ac

6. 

   23 Oct 2021

   Episode 3 - Mumbai, India

   Meet Dr. Olivia Misquitta, one half of the Headstart Project (https://www.facebook.com/groups/theheadstartproject/) and a GP trainee in the South of England. We recently caught up over some warm chai in cold England where we talked about racism, the lack of a sabzi mandi, insurance and medicine, cultural differences and feeling like outsiders as we also spoke about her beloved Mumbai. Or as she puts it: "What is home? It is where you know where the streets lead and what routes to take depending on the time of the day. It is where you have your designated favourite spots to grieve failure and to celebrate success. It is where slangs and dialects are not foreign, where you understand rules – even when they’re unspoken. Worli sea face for a sad day, Marine Drive for a happy one and sentences and texts peppered with ‘Accha Theekays’. Home for me is Mumbai. And I left. Why? When I was younger, my dad had worked in Singapore and UAE. He had friends that were Filipino, Pakistani, British, Brazilian etc. My best friend is in New Zealand. My friends were in Australia, Fiji, Singapore, Spain, USA and South Africa. It was only about time that my feet would get restless and the travel bug would bite. And here I am. In the UK, I’m learning where the streets lead and that its probably best to avoid certain routes at 5pm. I now know that the Mount is where I grieve failure and the Lock is where I take a picnic to celebrate. I now add ‘x’s to the end of my texts as would other brits. Only a few are fortunate to have two homes. Soon, I will be among them." Please like/share/subscribe to the official links: Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AsadullahAneesKhan Official blog: www.imgukpodcast.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imgukpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/imgukpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imgukpodcast/ Podcast links: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/auakhan Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imguk-podcast/id1588473403 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lxoVSB2Hiu1FMEiu6zmDq?si=441d0796f7f340ac

7. 

   16 Oct 2021

   Episode 2 - Lagos, Nigeria

   Meet my friend Dr. Oloronsuyi Ikumapayi - an NHS GP who shares his story with us on episode 2: "From Lagos to London, what it’s like for a BAME doctor moving to the UK.Moving to the UK and leaving the hustle and bustle of Lagos was definitely something that evoked a lot of thought, however it’s the best decision I’ve made in my almost 3 decades of living.I am from Lagos, Nigeria. Growing up there taught me important lessons that have come in handy in my journey as a doctor living in the UK. Most people know that life back home is not that easy and it’s taught me how to survive. Even now as a GP, I haven’t forgetten my roots. I’ve made lifelong friends that have impacted my life positively. As an example, I met Asad and just looking through our old WhatsApp conversations and I found us sharing recipes for Jollof rice as well as talking to each other about unhelpful surgical registrars, the heparin dose for ischemic limbs, how to prepare for your first locum shift, salary issues when we first started and when we were first going back to Nigeria and Pakistan after we started, how driving is like survival in Lagos and Lahore. We walked to our workplace everyday during our first few months together, sharing many stories and our goals in life while also discussing the results of the week's UEFA Champions leagues matches.I am very grateful for our shared experience together and for his friendship. Although we’ll face challenges as BAME residents and as immigrant doctors, with wonderful friends and support network, you quickly get a grasp of how to deal with these challenges. I certainly miss the companionship and the food in Lagos, and would never forget those important lessons being a Nigerian has taught me." Official blog: www.imgukpodcast.wordpress.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imgukpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/imgukpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imgukpodcast/ Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AsadullahAneesKhan Podcasts: Anchor: https://anchor.fm/auakhan Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/imguk-podcast/id1588473403 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5lxoVSB2Hiu1FMEiu6zmDq?si=441d0796f7f340ac

8. 

   1 Oct 2021

   Episode 1 - Lahore, Pakistan

   Welcome to the first episode of the IMGUK Podcast. Meet one of my partners in crime Dr. Mujtaba Hasnain Nadir. We talk about his memories of his city, his time in the UK and how he felt moving to a new country. Or in his own words: "How do you mourn a city? Or more accurately your memory of it? The lights still flicker on the streets of Lahore, but do the flicker the same as they did in your youth? Rhythmic, predictably unpredictable, too bright at the Liberty roundabout but not ever quite bright enough in the streets of Heera Mandi. Our full bellies and empty hearts. The inviting call to prayer at the beautiful Badshahi mosque. So many memories, so rich and fragrant. You can close your eyes and taste Butt’s Karhai and almost feel your tongue scald when you take a bite of Gulab Jamun dripping with hot Sheera. But was it ever real? Or is this just primed romanticism, I sit here and wonder, some five thousand four hundred miles away." Please like/subscribe to the official pages: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imgukpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/imgukpodcast Instagram: @imgukpodcast Official blog: imgukpodcast.wordpress.com

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.