Black History Month: resilience, ambition and empathy

The physiotherapists we interviewed to celebrate Black History Month all have different stories, but they are woven through with similar threads of quiet courage, resilience and strength. 

They each spoke about developing leadership skills in many forms, from leading teams to advocating for patients, standing up for colleagues, challenging perceived injustices, having a voice on CSP Council, or contributing to research or service improvement. 

The conversations, with people at various stages of their careers, revealed the bravery of taking on new challenges – and hard work and stoicism in the face of setbacks. Four of the five interviewees spoke of the determination to succeed while coping with a new country and new ways of working.

Manchester-born Adeseke Adeyemi is a recent graduate of Keele University, where she was a CSP student rep. She is now a neurological physiotherapist in the private sector. She describes a very early occasion where she felt the need to challenge authority.

In the first year there was a lecture where me and another Muslim student were told to undress. There was no leeway about how much we could undress, or if we could undress with just females, it was just very much “you have to get undressed. 

‘We spoke to a trusted lecturer and we actually ended up changing the wording of the consent forms sent out at the beginning of the year, so that you can undress, but up to this level, in this scenario, in front of a male, and to this level in front of a female.

‘It was really impactful to see that change happen, and help those coming after me, and be the one that started the conversation.I think that shaped the way I lead,’ she said.

Marvellous Jesutoye, an MSK physiotherapist at Harrogate and District NHS Trust, sees leadership as all about influence and learning. 

Whenever I have experienced something unpleasant, I don’t want people coming after me to experience the same. That is what good leadership is about – making sure that people enjoy the benefit of changes you have made. 

‘Also, I believe leaders raise leaders. A leader that does not raise leaders is not doing a good job. Leaders should feel confidence in their team to know that if you’re not there, people can take your place, and that is what leadership is doing. That’s the culture we need in the NHS.’

Going the extra mile 

Gbemisola Ojebode, a first contact physiotherapist at a GP practice in Dudley, says she is ‘really proud’ of her recent election to the CSP Council. She echoed other interviewees who emphasised the need to go that extra mile to succeed. Like many of the others she says the experience of moving into a different country with a different healthcare system, ways of working and policies shaped her attitudes and ambitions.

Gbemisola says some of the challenges she has faced as a Black woman have made her reflect on the role that racism and unconscious bias can play in professional experiences.

‘I would not attribute every obstacle I have encountered to racism, because I know healthcare is complex and there are many factors that can influence our actions. However, there have been situations where I have felt that I had to work harder to prove my competence. It is difficult to navigate assumptions, cultural differences and environments, especially when you do not see people who look like you in those places.  

‘I think developing the confidence to recognise when something doesn’t feel right, seeking perspective from people I trust, and addressing the issue constructively rather than allowing them to undermine my confidence has helped me.’

‘The truth is, as a Black person, you sometimes need to work twice as hard,’ says Johnson Gbayike, a band 7 orthopaedic oncology physiotherapist at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust. 

‘I think there is pressure to be exceptionally well prepared before putting myself forward. But I have also learned not to wait until I feel completely ready before stepping into an opportunity. Preparation is important, but so is recognising that sometimes you’ve earned the right to be in the room.’

Johnson says he is one of relatively few Black physiotherapists at his trust where he started four years ago as a band 5, after five years of physiotherapy in Nigeria.

He says working in the NHS meant adapting to a different culture and ways of working, adding: ‘It taught me to observe, to listen, and continue learning, while also recognising that the experience and perspective I brought had value.’ 

He says the basis of leadership is ‘empathy’ and learning from patients. ‘I meet people at some of the most uncertain and life-changing moments of their lives. That has taught me that good leadership is not only about making decisions, but about remaining calm, communicating clearly, and helping people feel supported when things are difficult. 

‘We have a lot of patients where just sitting down there with them, communicating without saying anything goes a long way.

My patients have been some of my greatest teachers. They show me that progress sometimes may not be returning to what life was before. My patients have taught me to define success according to what matters to the individual. 

‘In my team there are a lot of people who have done the job longer than I have and they’ve taken me under their wings, and I learned a lot about working with patients.’

Celebrate your achievements

Gbemisola says that she is really proud to be a CSP Council member. ‘It was hard work, seeming impossible at the beginning, but yes, in the end it was positive. I believe it is a very big thing. 

I intend to speak to as many physiotherapists as possible, see what their needs are, and ensure that as a council member I’m able to be a voice for them, to influence the policies that can help build our profession. 

She says the CSP has done ‘great work, but there are still some gaps, when it comes to equity, diversity and belonging. We still have lots of things to do regarding discrimination and racism to ensure our policies reflect and represent the people of these backgrounds.’

Subuola says her proudest achievement is ‘building my career that has evolved across two different healthcare systems, where I continue to grow.

‘Most importantly, I value being able to put smiles on the faces of children and families that I support through my role.’

She tells young Black students to be proud of their achievements. ‘You are here because you earned your place – passed the exams, succeeded at interviews and proved that you are capable. So, believe in yourself, even when your confidence has not caught up with your abilities.’

She advises them to seek mentors, ‘build genuine meaningful relationships and do not be afraid to take up space’. ‘You belong here. Your voice deserves to be heard, and you are not inferior to anyone. Your background is part of your strength and perspective and never feel pressures to minimize it.’

She hopes to influence the future of physiotherapy by ‘encouraging and creating opportunities for under-represented voices, supporting emerging professionals and promoting a culture where different perspectives lead to a better care and better outcomes for children and their families’.

Johnson has won trust-wide and national acclaim for his work which resulted in a meeting and congratulations from former prime minister Keir Starmer. Johnson is most proud to be the co-author of a paediatric rehabilitation booklet, which was published this year. 

‘I’ve been working on it with my trust and the Bone Cancer Research Trust and is available to all trusts who do the surgeries, as well as the charity.

‘It represents the kind of physio I want to be – someone who treats patients in front of me but also asks the key question of how we can improve the path for everyone coming afterwards.’ 

BAME network support

Subuola Olaopa is a specialist paediatric physio who works in special schools in Birmingham. She says that growing up in Nigeria during a long period of unrest when it was ruled by military dictatorships, taught her the importance of ‘community, resilience and resourcefulness’. 

She encourages colleagues to join the CSP Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) network, describing it as ‘invaluable’. ‘It gave me a sense of belonging in the UK and a safe space to openly discuss experiences that I may not ordinarily raise in the workplace and seek honest advice without feeling judged while also connecting with people who understand my African background.’

Marvellous has been a member of the BAME network since he was a student and found it a great help to get a job in an NHS jobs freeze and with rising cost of living.

‘That was a low moment for me, but the network is the place to go because you get pastoral support, professional support, and camaraderie as well.’ 

You are here because you earned your place – passed the exams, succeeded at interviews and proved that you are capable. So, believe in yourself, even when your confidence has not caught up with your abilities.

He praises the BAME network chair, Rajkumar Samuel, and Justine Musiime, another network member, who organised webinars about getting the best out of job interviews, and advised on essay writing.

Adeseke agrees: ‘The network is a good place to share ideas. We have a group chat, so that’s really good to engage with. It’s good when people come in with me on questions. They want some advice. It’s just good to have that input and feel like you have a community behind you which is good for younger students.’

Gbemisola cites Dr Melrose Stewart, one of the founders of the BAME network, as one of her role models, as is Rajkumar and Michelle Obama ‘and her husband is a pretty good role model too’.