What Black History Month means to me | Research News and Media

Salome Mwale, Research Nurse

What does Black History Month mean to you?

Black history month is an appreciation of our history and helps us to understand its relevance by being aware, discovery of our history.

The theme for Black History Month this year is ‘Action not Words’, does this mean anything to you and if so, why?

Action not words: We have had so many policies and promises made to Black people around the world but to be honest not a lot of things have changed. Black people are underrepresented, Black people being searched for no proper reasons by the police; there are inequalities in jobs and pay. It’s about time that words are put into action.

Can you briefly tell us how you got into research?

Originally, I came from Zambia, and came to England in 2001 legally when the NHS had a recruitment rollout because of shortages. When I arrived, I had to do an adaption course for 6 months but coming from a background and culture of putting elderly people in a nursing home did not sit well with me and it was hard therefore, I applied to work in the NHS hospital. My first job in the NHS was on the haematology ward at city hospital and I have stayed in haematology ever since. I worked on the general haematology ward for 3 years and then went on to work on the Bone marrow and stem cell transplant ward for 15 years. 

After these many years on the ward, I needed a change and fortunately, at the time there was a vacancy in the haematology research team. Frankly, I was so nervous applying for this job because I did not know what the research nurses did. I was unsure if my computer skills would, confidence in myself to approach people and tell them about trials and the work that would come along with it. Thankfully, I knew two people who worked in research and asked them many questions. The reassurance I got about my uncertainties partly contributed to my go ahead in applying but overall I deeply needed a change, as I was not happy anymore on the ward despite the job being rewarding when you see your patients going home after a long battle with their disease. When I joined the research team, I was determined to absorb and learn the new skills very quickly of which I did and it has become very easy.

How important is research to you? And what do you like about it?

Research is very important in the medical field because without it there will be no new treatment for the future. I like research because I get to meet new people all the time and their families. I like that with the patients who are recruited to these trials we are all contributing to these new treatments for the future. I love the way the style of work gives me autonomy to plan my work and allow me more time to spend with the patient.

I would like however, to see more nurses from the ethnic minority groups to join research so that there is equal representation in these teams. The same applies to the patients from the ethnic minority group to enrol in trials  as most of them are missing out on the cutting edge treatment which is only being offered on trials and not yet standard of care. I am doing my degree now and my dissertation is based on poor enrolment of ethnic minority groups into trials. I am passionate about this topic and would love to see a change on how people perceive clinical trials.