Hi, my name is Miriam.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. It’s an honour to share this space with so many of you who have inspirational stories and experiences to share.
I grew up in the south of India, in a tropical state, a place blessed for its natural beauty, lined with pristine beaches. But things changed for me when I lost my older brother to cancer. He was only 12 and I was just six years old. Those early experiences, I believe, instilled a deep sense of compassion and empathy. My choice of a caring profession seemed to come naturally, and I decided to pursue a career in medicine.
After completing medical school and a gap year travelling, I moved to the UK and started my career in Psychiatry in 2003 at the Maudsley and Institute of Psychiatry, London, completing my psychiatry training in UCL and higher training at St George’s London.
Working in mental health services in inner cities and suburbs allowed a broader understanding of issues around equity and parity. There are several moments in my life and my career that shaped and shifted my perspectives, and with time, the urge be true to be myself was compelling. Working as a front-line clinician during the 72 hours of the London bombings in 2004 and witnessing several selfless acts of compassion and care, accelerated my personal and professional growth. It was an honour to represent my peers twice as their elected national higher trainee representative at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, advocating for the opportunities and contributing towards the common good.
My own lived experiences of neurodiversity (ND) ignited an interest in ND related teaching, research and clinical interest. Along with my colleagues in the National Deaf CAMHS team, it is exciting to work on a national quality improvement project on how to improve the assessments for Autism in deaf girls. To be invited to teach at various forums nationally and internationally on behavioural sleep issues and on Autism has been humbling and exciting . After nearly three decades since starting med school, receiving the prestigious Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2023 for the contributions to the field of mental health and Psychiatry was a moment that I will cherish as I reflect on my journey.
I started writing this blog at the Westminster Palace park in London and I couldn’t help noticing that behind me was our parliament. Under its shadows, a statue dedicated to suffragette movement with a plaque stating ‘courage calls to courage everywhere’. Courage comes in all forms, so does leadership. Every time you decide not to give up, every time you rise above the storm, every time you give hope to someone, every time you have the audacity to change, that is leadership. For many of us what we do or achieve goes unnoticed, very rarely they get celebrated, yet every time when you find the resolve to show up and carry on with dignity, that too is leadership.
To be part of the work to improve the lives of Autistic girls and women, to be a woman of colour in senior leadership roles, challenging stereotypes, promoting inclusivity, and supporting real changes to people’s lives is moving. I am grateful to have been given opportunities to contribute towards the progress we have made so far.
As a woman of South Asian heritage with lived experience of neurodiversity, I have experienced many shades of abuse and discrimination. But through it all I also found a handful of good people who inspired me, believed in me, mentored me, reminded me, encouraged, and gave me wings to fly. I am grateful to many but mostly to my parents who instilled in me steadfast faith that has kept me going, to my son who gives me every reason to smile, to my patients who trust my care and inspire me and to my colleagues who don’t mind my moments in the shine.
My story is not exceptional, there are many like me. I am sharing my narrative to remind that no matter where you come from, your background or what you are going through in life, you will find people who will encourage, inspire and support you as you rewrite your story.
To those aspiring to be future leaders have the courage to look inwards, to evolve, to remember that real changes happens when we do it together and when situations require it, rise to be the change. Find the time to connect with what makes you happy and practice self-compassion. And when you reach that place not to forget to give a hand so that someone else can reach there too.
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