Introducing Emmeline Brew-Graves……

What person/quote would you say inspires you?

There’s a quote by the Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890 Theologian) which has been a guiding principle over the years. “God has created me to do him a  definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told in the next.”

Following on from being in Form 5S1, what made you choose medicine rather than another profession?

I became a doctor because I had to. My parents slowly but surely steered and supported me to study medicine. It was not until I qualified from St Thomas Hospital Medical School, University of London in 1987 that I realised that a medical degree was but a gateway to a world of wonder. Only one of my close friends from Med School still practises medicine. Of the others, one has retired from Banking, another from accounting, another writes musical scores for TV and films. I craved the adventurous and creative genes that my girlfriends were obviously blessed with but hey ho someone must do the mundane!

Why did you choose to specialise in General Practice?

Despite an interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, I chose a career in General Practice as it offered the flexibility that I think I needed in both my professional and my personal life. As a General Practioner (GP), I tried all varieties of that existence. I started off as a full-time partner in a practice for 12 years. During that time, I explored other specialties, for e.g. I studied for a Master’s in Public Health and also trained in Forensics. However, I could not choose which speciality to focus on as Public health took me away from patients and Forensics was difficult to practice with a young family.

To straddle the worlds of General Practice, Public Health and Forensics, I stepped down from partner duties and became a salaried GP initially in Dulwich then in Croydon. I also worked in a number of Urgent Care / Out of hours Centres in South London. I retired from General Practice and Public Health in 2018 to concentrate full time on Forensics.

Can you tell us a bit more about this next phase of your career journey in Forensics?

I specialise in the Clinical and Forensic Care of complainants of rape and Sexual Assault. I currently work as a Sexual Offences examiner at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in London called the Havens (https://www.thehavens.org.uk/) and as the Clinical Director for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Bristol called the Bridge (https://www.thebridgecanhelp.org.uk/). Apart from seeing patients and doing all the usual management things I get to teach medical students, nurses, midwives, doctors, police, lawyers and social workers about rape and sexual assault and I also go to court to act as a professional witness in rape cases.

Working with those affected by sexual violence must be a difficult and harrowing area to operate in. How do you ensure you don’t take your work home with you? What coping mechanisms do you utilise to mitigate the stressful effects of your work?

Surprisingly, I find working at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre less stressful than being a GP. Being a GP requires a doctor to deal with lots of problems in a very limited period of time. My role working with people who have been affected by sexual violence allows me to be focussed and I also get as long as is needed to support my patient. The team I work with is small, close and supportive. We are also encouraged to see a Clinical supervisor (psychologist) regularly.

Your passion for your medical career in general and more specifically for ‘service’ to others is apparent. Can you share more of what you’ve found most rewarding?

What I have loved about being a doctor is the connections I have been privileged to forge between individuals and families, sometimes generations of the same family. What I love about my current role as a Sexual Offences Examiner is seeing people at a time of their life that they are in crisis but because of their own resilience and strength they are able to rise above the pain and the hurt and being part of that extra-ordinary journey.

Any other interests you may want to share with us?

The current hostile climate in the UK against Refugees & Asylum seekers has prompted me to work as a volunteer for the charity Freedom From Torture
(https://www.freedomfromtorture.org/). The charity has centres nationwide and works to support (medical, therapy and legal advice) refugees in the UK. My birthday Facebook collection was in aid of Freedom From Torture. Thank you to all who contributed to it.

You did mention earlier about having to juggle your professional life with raising a young family. Perchance did any of your children follow you in the same profession?

I have three awesome children – well 2 step-daughters and one son. None of them are in medicine but have pursued their own passions. My oldest step-daughter makes wedding cakes (https://www.littlecakegarden.com/), my second step-daughter is a BAFTA winning actress and my son is an aspiring teacher and DJ.

Switching gears, your mother Mrs Charlotte Brew-Graves was the first female Headmistress of Achimota. How did you and your family feel about this pace-setting achievement?

Can I start by saying that the whole family is incredibly proud of Mummy. Not only because she was the first female Head of Achimota but also because she has achieved so much in her career at Winneba Training College, Labone Secondary School and her work with female literacy in the UN. That pride has become evident as we have grown older and are getting to see how she has impacted loads of lives. At the time she was appointed we just thought it was par for the course because we grew up with Achimota as part of our lives. As children, we were often taken to visit staff members, then when it came to choosing a secondary school we were only allowed to make one choice on our common entrance form.

I am a third generation Motowner – my maternal grandfather studied at the Grey City, both my parents went to Achimota and all my siblings are Akoras. Mummy not only went to Achimota (1953 Year Group), she taught Home Economics there as a young teacher and was Clark House mistress. She also met my father there! As you can see, she has had a very long love affair with Achimota.

Any final thoughts you would like to share with us?

I would like to end with a little more of the quote from the Blessed John Henry Newman whowill be canonised by the Pope this year “I have a part in a great work. I am a link in a chain,a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do His work.”

Emmeline Brew-Graves
2F, 3A, 4S1 and 5S1
Kingsley House

Look out for our next Spotlight Edition on Mona Kabuki Quartey