Olamide Oguntimehin
Social Handle:
@MelaninMedics
About
Founded in 2017 and registered as a charity in 2020, Melanin Medics is a Black-led charity dedicated to promoting racial diversity, widening aspirations, and aiding career progression within the UK medical field. We implement a tailored, pipeline approach to dismantle the systemic racial and socioeconomic barriers faced by Black African, Caribbean, and mixed-heritage individuals. From school outreach and free medical school application support to structured 1:1 mentorship and leadership development for practicing doctors and medical students, we empower our community at every stage of their medical journey. To date, we have supported over 300 young people into medical school, reached 4,000+ through outreach, and engaged over 2,500 medical students and clinicians. By transforming individual pathways and delivering EDI workshops to NHS Trusts and universities, Melanin Medics is driving long-term, systemic change to create a fairer healthcare system for all.
What’s the most exciting part of being a DiNN One To Watch for you or your organisation?
For everyone at Melanin Medics, being named a "One to Watch" feels like a huge, joyful pat on the back. It proves that our community-led, "by-and-for" way of working is truly making a difference. Right now, the biggest challenge we face is that the demand for our support is growing faster than our small team can keep up with. That is why this recognition is so exciting; it connects us to the wider Do It Now Now network just when we need it most. We are eager to use this momentum to build a stronger foundation, transition from relying mostly on volunteers to bringing on permanent paid staff, and scale up our equity and diversity workshops. This award tells potential partners that we are ready to grow, helping us take our support to even more young people, medical students, and doctors across the UK.
