In honour of South Asian Heritage Month - Nymeth Ali
I joined the Trust in 2011 as a Deputy Laboratory Manager in the Histopathology department at Charing Cross Hospital. I am now the Laboratory Manager for the Cellular Pathology division at North-West London Pathology (NWLP) on the same site. This “new” lab opened in 2020 with the centralisation of the services from 4 different laboratories, creating one of the biggest histopathology services in London and the regions, with a team in excess of one hundred staff.
In addition to my main role, my passion for learning and teaching led me to also become the Training Manager for the division, overseeing the training for approximately one hundred and fifty staff, a role that presents new challenges daily in supporting the progression and development of the Biomedical Scientist workforce and other professions.
My first source of inspiration is my mother and other female figures I grew up with, who showed me that with hard work and perseverance I could achieve my goals and have a positive impact on others. My mum was born in Mozambique and due to the war there, she and her family moved to Portugal in the 1970s. This was a challenging time for the family, settling in a new country and finding a new home. When she got married, she moved to a conservative Muslim Asian family and once again had to adapt to new circumstances. Her strength has been a great motivation for me to develop personally and professionally and this has provided the freedom to live my dreams.
Looking back at my journey in becoming a Biomedical Scientist, I remember taking my A levels and not being sure about which course to take, when a conversation with a friend of my mum’s, who was a Biomedical Scientist, forged my professional pathway. I visited her laboratory and had the opportunity to learn about what she did in practice and that inspired me to follow this route.
I am glad South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) is celebrated in the Trust; I follow the social media handles and attend some of the sessions, whether face to face or webinars. This year, I have been given the opportunity to participate more actively by sharing how the theme, ‘Free to be me’ has been a part of my professional journey, and this has been exciting; I am definitely an advocate of these celebrations.
