Professor Olanrewaju Sorinola

Academic Lead Phase II, Warwick Medical School

“From a young age I always wanted to present myself well. Who says men can’t have different types of shoes. They don’t have to be boring black or brown.”

“Back home in Nigeria I was a child prodigy. Thanks to my aunt, who was also the headteacher, I started school early at the age of three. Moving to secondary school aged nine and started university aged 14. I graduated at the age of 20. I’m still the youngest graduate of medicine in Nigeria - they used to call me baby doctor! I keep checking and hoping that a 19-year-old doesn’t come along and trump me.

The turning point in my life happened in secondary school. One of my friends started convulsing, looking back now I know it was an epileptic seizure. The teachers told everyone to not touch him, and I just felt that was wrong. That’s when I decided that medicine and helping people was my path. Although all of my prizes at school were in physics, not biology, but I knew what I wanted to do.

As a clinical academic I also work at Warwick Hospital as a consultant gynaecologist. I’ve been very lucky and it’s my passion to be able to help people, and yes, I’ve got over 100 pairs of shoes.”