Ola's Startup Story

Ola Orekunrins startup story is truly remarkable. She was

originally born in London and grew up in a foster home with her sister in the small seaside
town of Lowestoft in the south-east of England.

With a passion for medicine, she studied at the University of York in the UK, graduating at
the incredibly young age of 21 as a qualified doctor. Her meteoric rise in the field of medical
studies took her to Japan as a result of her being awarded the MEXT Japanese Government
Scholarship. There, she conducted clinic research in the field of regenerative medicine at the
Jikei University Hospital. However, the catalyst for a major life and career decision came
when her sister became very, very ill on holiday whilst staying with relatives in Nigeria.

The local hospital was unable to manage her sickle cell anemia condition, and as a result,
Ola and her family started to search for an air ambulance so that she could be safely
transported to a suitable medical facility in the country. The tragedy for the family was that
there were no air ambulances to be found, even though the search took them from Nigeria,
to Ghana, Sierra Leone and Cameroon, and across West Africa. The only one to be

found was in South Africa, 5 hours away, but by the time the logistics had been arranged,
Olas sister had died of her condition.

About Karen Roush PhD, RN

Karen Roush brings extensive experience as a writer, teacher, and nurse to The Scholars
Voice. She has numerous publications, including books, health-related articles in scholarly
journals, essays, and poetry. She is currently the Clinical Managing Editor of the AJN,
American Journal of Nursing. She has presented workshops on writing to graduate students

and professionals both nationally and internationally and edits manuscripts for faculty
members, researchers, and publishers.
The Scholars Voice Mission Statement:
To help professionals and scholars in the health sciences, particularly nurses, become skilled,
confident writers who have an appreciation and joy for beautifully crafted language. To
strengthen nursings voice through increased dissemination of nurses work.
Karen Roush is the kind of writer who knows how to dig just below the surface to tap
emotions most of us cant even begin to write about. Her
simple, succinct and deeply honed writing style is an inspiration to anyone who works with
her, studies with her, or simply socializes with her. Karen has a love for writing that
permeates every sentence, every gesture, every moment that she shares with her fellow
writers and writers-to-be.

Meet Alex Kosik: Medical Doctor, Entrepreneur, Mentor

Dr. Alex Kosik believes in the power of perseverance. "Overcome your difficulties and just
keep working and get it done," he says, encapsulating the true recipe for entrepreneurial
success. The Russian spinal cord surgeon turned serial entrepreneur was a winner of the
CRDF US Travel Grant in 2007. He is now a president of the startup Gravitonus Inc. as well
as the co-founder and CEO of revolutionary lip cancer treatment developer Quantum Cure.
He mentors aspiring entrepreneurs through CRDF Globals Innovation and Entrepreneurship
programs, while developing his own technology products to help those with disabilities live
active lifestyles.
Alex credits his desire to become an entrepreneur to his first visit to the United States in
2001, where he attended a lecture by paralyzed American actor Christopher Reeves.

"I was really fascinated by the willpower of Mr. Reeves," said Kosik. "How he
can empower people to do different and outstanding things."

The experience propelled him to use his medical and business knowledge to help others as
an entrepreneur, not just a doctor. In 2006, Alex participated in the Intel Technology
Entrepreneurship Challenge at University of California, Berkeley, where his team received
the humanitarian award to launch their first startup, Gravitonus. The company developed
two core technologies. The first, the Alternative Computer Control System (ACCS), is a
tongue-operated mouse designed to allow quadriplegics to use computers, phones and other

electronics. The second is a line of ergonomic equipment, from office cubicles to fullycustomized workstations.

"I am still a scientist," said Kosik. "But when I was a practicing doctor, I could help [only]
one disabled person overcome their disability at a time. We were missing the scope of help
that I as a scientist can provide these people." He quickly realized, in order to affect global
change, he had to take his technology worldwide. Laughing, he added, "Entrepreneurship is
fun. Entrepreneurship is twice as fun."

Gravitonus was one of the leading technology startups to launch out of Eastern Europe,
making headlines, featured in business magazines and covered on tech websites. In addition
to the support from Intel, Gravitonus received backing from local angel investors to industry
heavyweights. The technology has received numerous accolades and awards from idea
competitions at Microsoft, Stanford and CES, who praise its humanitarian impact.

At the same time, Alex felt that he wanted to give back, and help the

organizations that supported him throughout his journey to success. In 2010, he became a
CRDF Global mentor, working with and coaching CRDF Global supported teams. "[CRDF
Global has the] very important task of supporting the young generation of science-oriented
people, and helping them overcome the urge to become just managers or office workers,"
he says, "[helping them] stay scientists, and help them start businesses, and make those
businesses profitable." Many of the recipients of CRDF Global grants are from Eastern
Europe, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia where access to funding and US mentors can be
scarce. Alex was vocal about his appreciation for the mentoring program, noting that the
funding CRDF Global provides grantees is only part of the story. Mentoring provides startups
with a level of intellectual support and access to an international business network.

Kosik notes that because of the rapid technological advancement of science all over the
world, and the development of new communications

technologies, "The mission of CRDF [Global] will be tenfold more important in ten years."
When asked what he thought was the single best piece of advice
he could give early stage entrepreneurs, Alex says, "Keep
working. Success will come eventually. Sooner or later, tougher
or easier, it doesnt matter right now. Just keep pursuing it."

Philippa Kennealy MD MPH CPCC PCC

Philippa Kennealy MD MPH CPCC PCC is President of The Entrepreneurial MD. As a coach
with ICF-Certification and a Certified Physician Development Coach, she works with
physicians who are striving to become entrepreneurs and build their own successful
businesses or thriving practices. They are usually finding little in the way of support,
education and resources that are specifically attuned to their business goals.
She is a board-certified Family Physician who left her own private practice in 1996 to
embark on an administrative career as first Medical Director and then CEO of UCLA-Santa
Monica Medical Center. Subsequently, she served as Executive VP in two internet start-up
companies, before launching her first coaching and speaking business, Oya Consulting.

Philippa is passionate about professional development for physicians that permits

them to reinvigorate their careers and overcome burnout. As reported to her repeatedly,
physicians long for more control over their lives. And given a decent chance and mentoring,
they also excel in leadership positions.

Though one-on-one coaching and group tele classes, she has coached physician executives,
department chiefs and medical staff presidents to get
results as leaders. She believes that capable, thoughtful and insightful physician
leadership is essential to the future of healthcare in the US.
In recent years, her own experience as a physician entrepreneur growing a successful
business has ignited her passion in a slightly different direction - that of entrepreneurship.
She has come to see that entrepreneurship offers a very important avenue to
breaking through job staleness, and it reintroduces physicians to their own
creativity and resourcefulness. This certainly has been true for her.
She firmly believes that, with encouragement, a belief in their own abilities, and a pragmatic
approach, physicians are highly capable of making their inventive ideas a reality.
They are, after all, a hard-working, dedicated, smart group of people!

Geoffrey Edelsten
Geoffrey Walter Edelsten (born 2 May 1943) is an Australian medical entrepreneur who
founded Allied Medical Group.
Edelsten was a general practitioner, but was deregistered in New South Wales in 1988 and
later in Victoria. In 1990, he was jailed for perverting and soliciting Christopher Dale
Flannery to assault a former patient.
In the 1980s, Edelsten's unconventional clinics and lifestyle attracted media attention. He
owned mansions, helicopters, and a fleet of Rolls-Royces and Lamborghinis with license
plates such as Macho, Spunky and Sexy. His multidisciplinary clinics the forerunners of
modern corporate medical practices were open 24 hours, and were fitted with chandeliers,
grand pianos, and mink-covered examination tables.
In 2005, Edelsten and a business partner founded Allied Medical Group, which by 2010
administered 17 medical centers and employed around 250 general practitioners. Edelsten is
not, however, a shareholder or owner of the company.
Edelsten was the first private owner of a major Australian football team the Sydney
Swans Football Club, which he bought in 1985.

Liz Zetazate
Amazing Success Story: Midwife To Successful Millionaire

Becoming financially literate can not only ensure your fiscal security, but it opens a range of
doors and possibilities for employment growth as well. Liz Zetazates journey from obscurity
to a financial success began in the Visaya region of The Philippines. I am the youngest of
five girls. My parents were always very strict, but always reminded us to be our own
person, Liz explained.
Liz was thrust into marriage and motherhood at 16. Her family struggled. She was trained
and worked as a midwife, but couldnt seem to build any savings. I knew I had to leave; I
didnt know how I was going to do it, but I made a promise to myself that I would move out
of the country by the age of 31.
Exploring new frontiers
A classified advertisement for a nanny position in Hong Kong proved to be her ticket out. Liz
worked as a nanny for years, raising her boss children alongside her own. When she had the
opportunity to nanny for a TV executive in Canada for $18,000 a year, it was enough for her
to uproot again and start a new life in Toronto.

After buying a small life insurance policy, Liz was inspired by the entire process believing
that she could do it too. It was an awakening. With that, Liz joined a traditional life
insurance distributor as an advisor. I was so amazed. I went from making $18,000 to
$66,000 a year doing something that actually helped people. Liz wasnt trained in finance,
but was trained in helping people as it was what she did her whole life.

After eight years at the company, Liz felt like she had plateaued and was approached with an
opportunity to join World Financial Group. It was what I was doing before, but with the
opportunity to build a larger business, it was much more entrepreneurial. Liz quickly
flourished, hitting personal milestone after personal milestone.
Success is when you dont worry about anything. You wake up knowing that life is good and
beautiful."
In 2014 Liz hit the $1,000,000 of personal income mark utilizing a passion and soul driven
to change a generation. Lizs career has been built on a foundation of first understanding her
own financial situation, how to best maximize, save, and balance her income, then teach
those best practices to others. Strong financial literacy is the key, she explains.
Achieving success
When asked about her notion of success and how to attain it, Liz comments that success is
when you dont worry about anything. You wake up knowing that life is good and beautiful.
Its having your partner and kids there with you. You can do whatever you want, with no
barriers to stop you from achieving your destiny.

As a woman of faith, Liz abides with the truth that nothing can stop you from reaching your
full potential. When asked about advice she would give to anyone on the hinge of deciding
what to do with their life, Liz shares age

old wisdom passed down from her father: to be that someone who plants a seed in the soil
so that 20 years from now, when someone is being sheltered from the shade of the tree
which sprouted from the seed you planted, you know youll never be forgotten.
With the support of her husband Rudy, her children and grandchildren, Liz continues to
recruit, mentor, and train associates who aspire to become successful in the financial
services industry. Passion for people and a stellar belief that every problem has a solution

has led this remarkable lady in her journey from being a midwife to being a millionaire
today.

Rosita Romulo
There's the story of Rosita Romulo, 40, a former overseas Filipino worker who now manages
her own WFMC in Luisiana, Laguna. A graduate of the midwifery course at the Emilio
Aguinaldo College in Manila in 1980, she worked in a rural health unit in Sta. Maria, Bulacan
and then in Abu Dhabi and Beirut for four years. When she returned to Luisiana, she could
hardly make both ends meet. One day she heard a WFMC radio ad about the WFMC clinics;
not long after, she had her own clinic, set up in October 2000 from
loans and some savings. Today she earns a monthly gross income of P50,000 from the fees
of an average of 10 patients a day.

From her income, Rosita was able to renovate her house and provide the basic needs of her
family. But very important to Chit is her being able to provide for her townsfolk health care
services and share information on family planning.
For her good work, she was cited as "Entrepreneur of the Year" in the NCR/Calabarzon
region, and her clinic won the "Cleanest and Most Organized Clinic" award.

She says it wasnt easy managing her own business at the start, but in a short time, she
was running her clinic like a pro, and she gets satisfaction from knowing that her patients
trust her and that she is making a positive change in their lives.

Esther Maree Candish

A midwife who failed to perform appropriate medical tests on a heavily pregnant woman
whose baby died breached legal, professional and ethical standards, the Human Rights
Review Tribunal has found.
Palmerston North midwife Esther Maree Candish was the woman's lead maternity carer near
the end of her pregnancy in April 2011 after the woman's previous midwife went on leave.
According to an agreed summary of facts, less than a week (5-6 days) after Mrs Candish
took over, the woman - who was about 39 weeks pregnant - became concerned about her
unborn baby.
She sent Mrs Candish a text about a lack of movement from the unborn baby and increased
vaginal discharge with black spots.
It was her first pregnancy.
In response, Mrs Candish told her via text to "drink ice cold water and sit quietly on the
couch to feel the baby move".
The woman, known only as Ms A, was assessed by Mrs Candish and a student midwife a few
days later.

Both had difficulty detecting the unborn baby's heart rate, which is extremely unusual in a
full-term pregnancy.

While Mrs. Candish claimed she eventually heard the baby's heart rate, the agreed summary
of facts stated - given the advanced state of Ms A's pregnancy - that her pulse should have
been checked and a cardiotocograph should have been arranged.
This was never done, even after a second assessment a day later where Ms A was found to
be in established labour and the pair once again had initial problems hearing the baby's
heart rate.
That night, Mrs Candish and the student midwife returned to Ms A's home after being
informed that the mother-to-be was feeling bowel pressure.
On examination, she was found to be close to giving birth.
Her mother then drove Ms A to the nearby hospital, with Mrs Candish and the student
midwife travelling separately.
Because Ms A's mother got lost, it took the pair longer than it should have to reach the
hospital. Her baby was born about five minutes after they got there.
It was not breathing and had no heartbeat. Resuscitation was unsuccessful.
As a result of her actions, the tribunal declared that Mrs. Candish had breached the Health
and Disability Commissioner regulations.
Her care of Ms. A also failed to comply with legal professional and ethical standards, it
found.

The tribunal also stated that in the time since Mrs. Candish appeared before the tribunal for
her care of Ms. A, the matter had been resolved between the midwife and Ms. A.
Mrs. Candish's lawyer, Carla Humphrey, said her client was pleased this had occurred.

Ann Kelly
In Dublin Ann Kelly has been doing home births for 25 years. In Ireland there is a history of
medical disapproval of home birth and it is considered a practice from the bad old days.
The modern Irish way is to bring women into hospital where they are given Active
Management, no labour is allowed to last longer than 12 hours and the odds are that just
about every primipara will get uterine stimulation unless her cervix dilates at top speed.
Irish obstetricians tend to be paternalist, authoritarian and charming. Midwives are called
nurses.

Ann was reported by a top obstetrician, the Master of one of the hospitals, for transferring
a woman to hospital after a long labour at home. He considered that she should never have
agreed to attend this woman at home.
The Matron of another hospital looked through the files of other women who had been
transferred and produced an extra batch of three cases. In one of these, in which the second
of twins died, Ann was not the midwife responsible for the case and simply turned up to help
a colleague. Ann was informed about the first accusation but was not told about the other
three accusations until the matter came up before the Irish National Nursing

Board. Between 1997 and 1999 the Board never once met to consider the evidence her
lawyer had presented on her behalf.

In May 1999 the High Court Judge lifted the injunction against Ann practicing as a midwife
because no single piece of evidence was produced showing that she was a menace to the
public. It has already cost the tax-payer 150,000 Irish pounds, but the case continues
in camera as is the Irish custom.