Bohaira El Geyoushi

I’m an obstetrician-gynaecologist with a special interest in IVF. I’ve lived in the UK, Egypt, and the UAE.

I’ve worked with various clinics and have been involved in setting up three of them in Dubai in the last 10 years.

The most recent project saw me build an IVF unit and team for a large international organisation. It was separate from the rest of the hospital but part of the general setup and management. I knew that, for he project to be a true success, I needed to understand how to be a good leader and manager, not just looking after my team but also able to effect change.

A colleague recommended the masters degrees at the RCSI, so I enrolled in MSc in Healthcare Management, a two-year, part-time and online course.

It was a challenge to divide my time between family, work and studying, especially as I hadn’t done an online course before. Despite the initial shock to the system, I did well in my first assignment. The light slowly began to shine as I learned new things, and there was lots of interaction with other students through the message board, WhatsApp group and the group work we did together.

One of the key lessons I took away was understanding the distinctions between leadership and management. I learned about transformative leadership – how it should empower every team member and create an environment where feedback, even critical, is welcome. This mindset has helped me grow both personally and professionally.

I thought I would struggle with the financial modules, but I learned how to crunch the numbers, make a business case and produce a profit and loss sheet as well as a solid business plan.

As part of the course, I did a project on electronic witnessing in IVF. This is normally done manually and involves someone double-checking that the right sperm, eggs and embryos are used in the process – it’s vital and necessary, as one error in our field can have devastating consequences. But it is time-consuming. A less error-prone system is to use an electronic barcoding system that activates alarms if a clinician makes a misstep, and we are implementing this in the Dubai branch.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to take the next step in my career. As a doctor, I have reached a point where I want more autonomy and the chance to realise my vision. I’m determined to establish my own clinic, and this course has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to make that vision a reality.