Celebrating International Women's Day: Shanice's story
Shanice Akinyombo is a research midwife at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.
To mark International Women’s Day 2023, Shanice, who previously worked as an independent domestic violence advocate, speaks about her career and the importance of ongoing research into women’s health.
“I am passionate about supporting other women, inside and outside of the workplace, with a particular interest in advocating for underserved women in our community.
“Research was not an area of midwifery that I thought I would specialise in, however, I now count it a privilege to be a part of this growing specialism. I believe research is the key to driving positive meaningful change within the NHS, policy and most importantly in the lives of the women we care for.
“I currently work on a number of different research projects, from in-house studies on endometriosis, fibroids and polycystic ovarian syndrome, to national projects such as Giant Panda, a study of maternal experiences of antihypertensive medications in pregnancy. I like that my current portfolio is varied and encompasses women’s and reproductive health.
“My Associate Lecturer post at Oxford Brookes University also gives me the opportunity to discuss current and upcoming research with midwifery students, whilst demonstrating a route of midwifery they may have not yet considered.
“In the future, I would like to see more diversity within the maternal research workforce and more diversity in the topics, people groups and application of research."
To learn more about working in research, speak with your R&D team or visit the NIHR website.
