Introduction

When the idea of holding the second edition of EXODUS was first conceived, it was envisioned as far more than just another webinar in the 2025/26 OOUMSA calendar. It was a dream—nurtured under the auspices of the Office of the Vice President and the OOUMSA Academic Committee—to open a window for our members into the wider world of practicing medicine, beyond the borders of Nigeria and the walls of our teaching hospitals.

From the very first publicity flier, it was evident that EXODUS 2.0 was not going to be business as usual. OOUMSAites had pressing questions they longed to see answered: curiosity about the USMLE, concerns about PLAB, uncertainties about Canadian residency, the realities of practicing in Australia, and a genuine excitement to learn from doctors who had successfully navigated these pathways.

To set the tone, we began with a precursor program themed “My Match Story”—an inspiring webinar where Dr. Adeolu Akinmeji, an OOUMSA alumnus, shared his journey to matching into a U.S. residency program. Held on 14th June 2025, this session drew over 160 attendees across two Google Meet links, and it effectively sparked the anticipation and momentum that carried into the main series.

Building on the legacy of the inaugural EXODUS, initiated under the administration of Dr. Samuel Busayo Ogunlade in 2023, EXODUS 2.0 was carefully designed to provide medical students and recent medical graduates with direct insights from seasoned professionals who have walked the path of global residency and advanced training. The series was curated to illuminate the realities, challenges, and opportunities in international medical practice while equipping participants to begin preparing early, leveraging available resources and networks.

Objectives

The key objectives of EXODUS 2.0 were to:

• Provide medical students and recent medical graduates with structured insights into residency programs across different regions of the world.
• Highlight the application processes, requirements, and potential hurdles associated with international medical training.
• Connect participants with mentors, facilitators, and alumni who possess firsthand experience in navigating these opportunities.
• Encourage early preparation and skill-building that enhances competitiveness for global residency slots.
• Inspire participants to think beyond borders while still embracing their commitment to serve humanity.

Program Overview

EXODUS 2.0 was hosted virtually between 14th June and 13th September 2025, with each session tailored to address a major global pathway open to international medical graduates. The sessions were conducted via Google Meet, using the OOUMSA Channel’s personal mail account. While the platform’s limit of 100 participants posed challenges, careful coordination ensured that OOUMSAites formed the bulk of attendees, while recent graduates, and medical students from other universities across the country also benefitted.

Featured Sessions

1. My Match Story: Navigating the U.S. Residency Pathway
   • Speaker: Dr. Adeolu Akinmeji
   • Date: 14th June 2025
   • Attendance: ~164 participants across two links
   • Overview: Dr. Akinmeji shared his personal journey to securing a U.S. residency slot, addressing practical steps in the USMLE process, match strategies, and lessons learned along the way.
   • 
2. Pathways to Canadian Residency
   • Speaker: Dr. Shamsudeen Usman
   • Date: 20th August 2025, 7:00 PM WAT
   • Attendance: ~100 participants
   • Overview: This session shed light on the MCC examinations, VISA procedures, research integration, and the intricacies of Canada’s competitive medical training environment.
   • 
3. Pathways to Training as a Doctor in the U.K.
   • Speakers: Dr. Opeyemi Amosu & Dr. Yushau Arowolo
   • Date: 31st August 2025, 4:00 PM WAT
   • Attendance: ~60 participants
   • Overview: Dr. Amosu and Dr. Arowolo provided an in-depth look into both training and non-training pathways in the U.K., focusing on GMC registration, the PLAB route, VISA processes, and transition experiences.
   • 
4. Pathways to Training as a Doctor in Australia
   • Speaker: Dr. Tosin Olaluwoye, MD, PhD
   • Date: 13th September 2025, 11:00 AM WAT
   • Attendance: ~30 participants
   • Overview: This session covered the AMC route, training and non-training options, VISA considerations, and the realities of living and practicing medicine in Australia.
   • 

Participation and Reach

• Cumulative Attendance: Over 350 participants across all sessions.
• Demographics: Primarily medical students and recent graduates from OOU, with participation from other Nigerian medical schools.
• Engagement: The Q&A sessions were especially vibrant, as participants sought clarity on examination structures, funding opportunities, migration logistics, and balancing international training with long-term career goals.
• Feedback: Many participants described the series as “eye-opening” and “a turning point in how they view their medical career trajectory.”
  

Impact and Outcomes

1. Knowledge Transfer
   Participants gained structured and practical insights into global medical training pathways, dispelling myths and clarifying misconceptions.
2. Motivation and Inspiration
   The candid stories shared by our speakers fostered belief among attendees that international training is attainable with deliberate preparation and resilience.
3. Networking and Mentorship
   The program facilitated meaningful connections between participants and speakers, with some speakers expressing openness to providing mentorship beyond the webinar.
4. Strategic Awareness
   Attendees were equipped with actionable timelines and preparatory steps—including examination registration, research engagement, and portfolio building—necessary for competitiveness in global residency applications.

Acknowledgements

The success of EXODUS 2.0 is credited to the collective effort of many, we appreciate:

• The Distinguished Speakers:
  • Dr. Adeolu Akinmeji – for inspiring us with his match story into the U.S. Residency Program.
  • Dr. Shamsudeen Usman – for breaking down the Canadian pathway with clarity and precision.
  • Dr. Opeyemi Amosu & Dr. Yushau Arowolo – for unpacking the intricacies of the U.K. training system.
  • Dr. Tosin Olaluwoye, MD, PhD – for his illuminating discourse on Australian training opportunities.
• The Facilitators: Special appreciation goes to Dr. Samuel Busayo Ogunlade, who linked us with resourceful speakers and provided critical support throughout the planning process.
• Our Moderators: Our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Olumide Bankole and Dr. Darah Alex Chioma, whose seamless moderation ensured each session flowed with excellence.
• The OOUMSA Executive Council for their commitment to creating transformative opportunities for members of the association.
• Our Members: for turning up in large numbers, their participation, contributions and support to making this event a success.

Conclusion

EXODUS 2.0 lived up to its billing and more—it was a transformative journey that broadened horizons, deepened aspirations, and reinforced the global vision of our association and its members. By equipping participants with knowledge, strategies, and role models, it laid a strong foundation for the next generation of OOU doctors to pursue excellence on the global stage.

This initiative reaffirms OOUMSA’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded medical professionals—prepared not only for service within Nigeria but also to make meaningful contributions to medicine worldwide.

Til’ we gloriously emerge.

SIGNED.

Oluwatomisin Otenaike,

Vice-President, ’25/’26.

Rhamat Adegboye,

Executive President, ’25/’26