Ethnicity and Race Members

Dr Lois Haruna-Cooper (Staff)

I am a senior clinical teaching fellow with the UCL Medical School Education Consultancy (MSEC) unit.  I co-chair the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee, lead the Race subcommittee, and am a member of the Race Equality Advisory Group (REAG).

I work as a medical tutor for the Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education, delivering clinical skills workshops for pharmacists delivering the NHS Community Pharmacist Consultation Service (CPCS).

I volunteer with UCLMS’ widening participation project Target Medicine, attending events and supporting student mentors’ training. I also volunteer with ReachOut!, a mentoring charity, working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. I am a UCLMS alumnus (class of 2011. I am currently studying part-time for my masters in Health Professions Education.

In my clinical role, I am a GP and locum in practices in and around Luton. I live in Luton with my husband, and two young sons. In my (limited) free time I run 5km every morning, and love Soca, playing mas as often as I can. 

I have had a deep-seated passion for education, and since my early teens have volunteered with various organisations to educate and empower young people including Hackney Summer University, Millennium volunteers, Tolerance in Diversity, and was a Millennium Award recipient in 2002.

Through my personal experience and various roles, I hope to use my experience to support positive change to improve racial discrimination in the medical school, and improve students’ experience. 

Tina Nyazika (Staff)

Hi! I'm Tinashe or commonly known as Tina. I was born in Zimbabwe where I had my childhood education.

Living permanently in England since my teenage years, I have at times found it challenging to blend the two cultures I have been brought up in, even though Zimbabwe was an English colony until 1980.

As one of a handful of black students in school both in Zim and England, during my nurse training in Guildford and as a senior nurse in critical care, I have experienced and seen colleagues subjected to racism in various forms. These micro and macro aggressions can become the norm. Ignoring these comments and suppressing the resultant feelings, not only normalises this behaviour but can impact our mental health, educational attainment, ability to learn and care for others.

As an educator who interacts with our medical students from years 1 - 6, I am in a unique and privileged position to be a catalyst for change in attitudes, skills and knowledge to enhance cultural competence. As a senior clinical skills tutor, I participate in teaching our 4th and 5th year medical students leadership skills where we address racism, discrimination and equality.

I have had the pleasure of teaching and facilitating on the UCLMS widening participation project Target Medicine. I have always had a strong desire to understand how people who are proud of their cultural heritage, like I am, can function effectively in a multicultural and ethnically diverse society, whilst maintaining their own identity.

I am proud to be part of the Race Equality Advisory Group within the EDI committee and am committed to working towards eliminating aberrant behaviour and promoting an environment where students and staff feel safe and valued.