By: Mustapha Njie – TAF
From a mysterious phone call that changed his life in The Gambia to the pinnacle of urological science in Scotland and beyond, Professor James Michael Olu N’Dow stands as a colossus of surgical excellence, groundbreaking research, and unwavering humanitarian commitment. His appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) is not merely a personal honour; it is a source of immense pride for The Gambia and an enduring inspiration for every young African who dares to dream of reaching the highest echelons of global medicine.
Professor N’Dow’s journey embodies the profound impact of talent, humility, and an unbroken connection to one’s roots.
A Foundation Forged in Scholarship and Service:
1. An Unlikely Beginning and Exemplary Academic Trajectory:
· Arrived in Aberdeen in 1985 as a 19-year-old on a British Council scholarship from The Gambia, greeted by a cold so shocking it almost sent him back.
· Earned his medical degree (MB ChB) from the University of Aberdeen in 1990, followed by surgical fellowships (FRCS) and an MD with Commendation from the University of Newcastle.
· In 2001, he was appointed as the first Director of the Academic Urology Unit at the University of Aberdeen, a position he has held while serving as a consultant urological surgeon with NHS Grampian.
2. Pioneering Clinical Practice and Research:
· As a Professor of Urological Surgery, he has secured over £60 million in research grants and published extensively in high-impact journals, fundamentally advancing the understanding of urological diseases.
· He serves as the Academic Coordinator for two massive European Union-funded big data projects: PIONEER (€12M) and OPTIMA (€21.3M). These consortia harness the power of big data and artificial intelligence to answer critical questions in prostate, breast, and lung cancer, aiming to personalise treatment and inform global clinical guidelines.
· Under his leadership of the European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Office (2014-2021), the EAU guidelines became the most trusted and comprehensive surgical practice guidelines in the world, now endorsed by 75 countries.
3. Compassion and Institutional Leadership:
· In 2005, moved by patient feedback, he co-founded the UCAN Charity. This pioneering initiative galvanised the local business community to transform cancer care, funding Scotland’s first robotic surgery programme and establishing a dedicated cancer centre to support patients and their families in the North of Scotland.
· He has mentored hundreds of surgeons and students, and serves as a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, reflecting his deep integration and respected standing within the Scottish community.
4. Unbroken Pan-African Commitment:
· Though based in the UK, Professor N’Dow has never forgotten his roots. For over two decades, he has travelled to The Gambia annually to volunteer his services.
· As Founder and Chairman of Horizons Trust UK and Horizons Trust Gambia, he has shifted his focus to one of The Gambia’s most pressing tragedies: maternal and infant mortality. He works to improve conditions in public childbirth facilities, partnering with international bodies like Baylor College of Medicine to ensure that Gambian mothers receive the safe care they deserve.
5. Distinctions and Professional Recognition:
· Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Cancer and Urology, and to Voluntary Work (2024).
· St Peter’s Medal from the British Association of Urological Surgeons (2023), its highest honour for a notable contribution to the advancement of urology.
· Christchurch Medal from the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (2019).
· Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
A Legacy Built on Collaboration and Humility:
Upon receiving his OBE, Professor N’Dow characteristically deflected the praise, stating, “I never work on my own. This award is about the local businesses and ordinary citizens of Grampian… It is also about the trust and friendship of colleagues… colleagues in The Gambia and globally. Finally, this award is about family because they sacrifice the most for journeys like mine”.
This humility is the hallmark of the man. He is a man who arrived in Scotland as a “beach bum” from Gambia, a leader who took a dressing-down from patients and turned it into a charity, and a global surgeon-scientist who spends his time improving maternal health in the land of his birth.
Professor James Ndow OBE DL has walked a path few have ever traversed. As a Gambian leading surgical innovation from an Aberdeen lecture hall and shaping European health policy, he has proven that excellence knows no nationality. His true legacy is not just in the operating theatres or research papers, but in the Gambian students who now see a future in global medicine, and in the mothers whose lives will be saved by the work he champions back home.
To Professor James Ndow OBE DL: We salute your intellect, your compassion, and your lifelong dedication to service. You have carried The Gambia with you to the pinnacle of your profession, and in doing so, you continue to lift your nation with you.
Jerreh Jeff, A Baraka, and Jarama, Professor. The Gambia salutes you.
