It Takes a Village: An Interview with Dr. Ola Kassim
No stranger to adversity, Olayiwola (Ola) Kassim was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. From an early age he saw doctors as heroes, as personified by his uncle who studied nursing abroad in the UK and his sister who later did the same. He lost his mother at only 3 years of age and his father a decade later. That was when his extended family came to the rescue and he was raised in both rural and urban communities in Nigeria.
In 1975, Dr. Kassim graduated and joined the Nigerian Youth Service Corp. (NYSC) where he met his wife. The two wanted to do their post-graduate studies abroad and he was accepted into a handful of Canadian and American universities, finally deciding on the University of Toronto. He has had a diverse medical career including Obstetrics, Gynecology and Psychiatry at Whitby Shores (1983-2009), which is his wife’s specialty. He finally decided that he wanted to “follow the specimen” as his true passion is Pathology (Laboratory Medicine). He went on to become the Chief Pathologist and Director of Laboratory Services at the West Parry Sound Health Centre (formally named Parry Sound District General Hospital) in 1985 continuing to this present day.
Dr. Kassim is no stranger to Black History Month accolades as he was one of the four individuals chosen during the Inaugural Black History Month celebration in 1995.
When asked about his experience with racism in Canada, Dr. Kassim likened it to tribalism in Nigeria. He simply chooses to view the world through rose-colored glasses and opts not to focus on the negatives. He attributes his “glass is always half full” outlook on life to the “double dose” of positivity he inherited from his parents and the confidence that is innate in the people of Nigeria which has helped them succeed despite all odds to live, work and succeed anywhere in the world they chose to call home.
He lives off the legacy of his parents and passionately believes in paying it forward. Giving back to the community has become a staple to Dr. Kassim’s approach to Medicine and in life itself. He continues to make his parents proud by helping others the way they once did. Either in his capacity at the Hospital inspiring youth to explore Pathology as a mentor, or in his role as the founding Chairman of the Nigerians in the Diaspora Organization (NIDO Americas Inc.) and in occupying an office at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC.
Dr. Kassim is passionately committed to supporting humanity. He and his wife have purchased an ambulance and leveraged their respective networks to collect a steady stream of medications and equipment for Nigerian healthcare workers. They are currently building a library and Community Centre in his hometown in Nigeria.
Dr. Ola Kassim has been an integral part of the BioPharma Services Inc. (BPSI) team since 2008, contributing to their success as an organization. His unique perspective and contributions, along with those of the diverse team members, have fostered an environment that champions innovation, creativity and diversity. Dr. Kassim attributes the success of BioPharma Services as a Clinical Research Organization (CRO) directly to the diversity within the organization and to the fostering on an inclusive culture that values and respects diverse experiences and backgrounds.
The greatest accomplishment for Dr. Kassim has been his role as devoted spouse to his wife and a father to their three accomplished children. The main passions of his life are fishing and boating with family, friends and colleagues on Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, as well as travelling, reading and blogging of his experiences and knowledge.
