DR TAIWO FASORANTI URGES MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY, PRIORITISE PATIENTS’ WELFARE
…As Ondo SSG Delivers Lecture At UNIMEDTH MBBS, BDS Fifth Induction
The Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, has charged newly inducted medical and dental practitioners of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo to uphold integrity, demonstrate compassion and prioritise patients’ welfare in the discharge of their professional duties.
He gave the charge while delivering a lecture titled “From Graduation to Greatness: Becoming the Doctor the World Needs” at the induction of the fifth set of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students into the medical and dental professions by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
He described medicine as a profession that demands more than academic qualifications, stressing that doctors must combine clinical competence with sound judgement, humility, ethical conduct and respect for human dignity.
According to him, the title of Doctor represents a profound responsibility because patients entrust practitioners with their health, personal information and, in critical situations, their lives
stating that the graduates must build public confidence through honesty, confidentiality, effective communication and equal treatment of patients, regardless of their financial or social status.
Fasoranti emphasised the importance of recognising the human being behind every diagnosis, urging the new practitioners to combine medical expertise with empathy and attentive listening.
He also cautioned against professional arrogance, advising doctors to acknowledge their limitations, seek assistance from senior colleagues when necessary and never compromise patient safety to protect their pride.
The Guest Lecturer reminded the graduates that their medical and dental degrees marked the beginning of lifelong learning, encouraging them to embrace continuous professional development, research and emerging medical innovations.
He urged them to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other healthcare technologies responsibly without surrendering their clinical judgement or losing the human connection essential to effective patient care.
Addressing the challenges confronting Nigeria’s healthcare sector, including inadequate resources, workforce shortages, overcrowded facilities and the high cost of healthcare, Fasoranti challenged the practitioners to embrace innovation and contribute to strengthening primary healthcare, disease prevention and community health.
He further called for teamwork among doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other healthcare professionals, stressing that collaboration and mutual respect were essential to achieving positive patient outcomes.
The lecturer also advised the graduates to protect patient confidentiality, maintain professional integrity, learn from mistakes and prioritise their physical and mental wellbeing amid the demands of medical practice.
He called on government and healthcare institutions to invest in medical infrastructure, equipment, workforce development, patient safety and staff welfare, noting that adequately supported healthcare professionals were better positioned to deliver quality services.
Fasoranti urged the new doctors and dentists to measure success not only by financial rewards or professional positions but also by lives saved, suffering alleviated, younger colleagues mentored and communities positively impacted.
He challenged the graduates to become competent, compassionate, courageous, humble and trustworthy professionals who would uphold the dignity of their calling.
He urged them to become the kind of doctors they would want attending to them or their loved ones during a medical emergency, stressing that the true measure of greatness in medicine lies in the ability to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
He concluded by encouraging the inductees to use their knowledge and skills to serve humanity, restore hope and contribute to the development of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
In her keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of UNIMED, Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe expressed appreciation on behalf of the institution management to the Guest Lecturer for honouring the invitation even at this period of his late father, Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s passage noting that his lecture means a lot to the university community, especially the graduates.
According to her, “It means a lot to us to hear your words of wisdom and your personal experience which I believe will stay with the young doctors for a long time. I hope the young doctors keep and use his experience,”
She presented a gift to him in recognition of the lecture on behalf of the institution.
At the event, 66 medical graduates and 11 dental graduates were inducted into the medical and dental professions.
