Zeshan Qureshi is a Paediatrician based in London. He graduated with Distinction from the University of Southampton. He co-edits the Oxford Textbook of Global Health of Women, Newborns, Children, and Adolescents, along with 13 other books, winning the BMA Young Author of the Year and the New Leader Award from the Association for the Study of Medical Education. He is a wellbeing advocate for doctors and a TEDx speaker.
Dr Qureshi has currently taken a study break from clinical practice to pursue a course in Health, Medicine and Society as a postgraduate student at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the intersection between race and medicine. In an exclusive interview with Sain Voice, he spoke about his tentative departure from routine practice, concerns of the immigrant community at the NHS and sustainable solutions.
Q - What urged you to go back to university and take a break from paediatric medicine?
It has been almost 20 years now since I first started medical school. I've really enjoyed being a doctor and looking after children in particular. However, I've realised medicine is not as objective as we'd like to think. Much like anything, it is influenced by our underlying beliefs and values. How race relates to health is an issue that has been neglected. Understanding why seems to be more of a social science question, not a basic science one. I want to start at the beginning and really get to grips with this important debate.
Q - How do you think voices like yours can at least act as a stimulus, if not a catalyst to send out a message that healthcare professionals do deserve a break and can foray into cultural sciences?
I am lucky to have had many great mentors throughout my career. In a world with a lot of fog, having people to guide and support you can bring clarity in moments of fear and anxiety. I hope that people through my example can feel empowered to confidently take alternative paths. I'm not complacent though: the proof will be in what I deliver.
Q - Since the UK stands at a delicate and vulnerable juncture in healthcare, especially in the light of institutional racism, what do you think is the need of the hour that can bring about some relief for immigrant doctors?
My father, a GP, came to the UK from Pakistan in 1974, answering the then government’s desperate call for more doctors. He experienced racism that no one could deny: once for example being told that his skin colour directly prohibited a promotion. Much racism is more subtle than this. More and more frequently racism is being recognised, but we still need decisive action to address it in all its forms.
Q - Not every healthcare professional or person of colour has the privilege and know-how to share their voice on social media (which is the most vocal platform for such issues). Do you think they're heard?
Unfortunately, most racism goes undocumented and unaddressed. A recent survey I conducted with my colleague Jameela Sheikh suggested barriers to reporting included: unclear reporting guidelines, the ineffectiveness of reporting, fear of a backlash, and normalisation of racist behaviour. This needs to urgently change so we can identify the exact nature of the problem, support victims, and hold systems and individuals accountable.
Q - Have you ever experienced racism in the UK or observed discriminatory behaviour towards healthcare professionals?
Yes, many times, including directly being told that a parent didn't want a doctor of my ethnicity. I find it really upsetting that a parent might wish to delay care for their sick child because of racial prejudice. Many professionals have had much worse experiences than me, including being victims of physical violence. This needs to end.
Q - What can be done outside social media to actually bring about a sustainable change in attitude and culture towards the immigrant community in the UK?
Every policy can and should be looked at through the lens of racial equality. I don't have the expertise or the lived experience to comment on all aspects of racism. I know what it was like for me as a second-generation Pakistani immigrant, but that doesn't mean I speak for all South Asians, let alone any other ethnic group. I'm focusing on where I feel I can have an impact. My most recent project is trying to develop guidelines for managing racist parents in Paediatrics. We can all do our bit.
Q - You've written books on medicine. During this break, do you wish to pen down something that would be a departure from your previous work?
I'd like to build on my current textbooks as they develop into new editions. I work with a wonderful team of authors, and it's really important to us that we update each book through not only a scientific but also an equality, diversity, and inclusion lens. In some areas there is a clear pathway for this- skin rashes for example are now much more widely photographed on non-white skin than they used to be. For other areas, particularly those outside my expertise, we need to think carefully and consult widely to ensure we approach things the right way.
