It’s National Nursing Week! To celebrate, we’re introducing you to Bukola Salami, associate professor in the Faculty of Nursing and principal investigator for the Health and Immigration Policies and Practices Research Program. Spend a few minutes getting to know her a little better.
What is your first U of A memory?
My first memory of the University of Alberta was meeting my future colleagues during my campus interview in 2013.
What’s something your coworkers don’t know about you?
I think my coworkers probably know too much about me. However, they may not know that the first of four high schools that I attended was a semi-military school in northern Nigeria. The experience exposed me to living in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp for some days when my high school was converted to an IDP camp during a conflict in northern Nigeria.
What’s your favourite distraction?
I like listening to religious, uplifting music.
If you were enrolling in one course, program or degree right now, what would it be?
I have always thought about taking a course or degree in epidemiology or biostatistics.
What’s a weird pet peeve you have?
I can’t think of a weird one. However, my biggest pet peeve is people who lie. I value honesty and integrity.
You can invite anyone — alive or dead, real or fictional — to dinner. Who would it be?
Apart from Jesus, the next person I would like to have dinner with is Mother Teresa. I would really like to learn from her, especially on how to be a blessing to others.
If you could see any live performance tomorrow, what would it be?
I think a performance by Whitney Houston. I love her voice and her music.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
I will probably say: “Be confident” and “You are more resilient than you think you are.”
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
My laptop (after my kids).
What three words describe your U of A experience?
Thankful, blessing, privilege.
What’s is one piece of advice you always pass on to your nursing students?
As a nursing student, you are acquiring innovative knowledge, skill and judgement that can result in local, national and global impact. Engaging in interdisciplinary dialogues with individuals across health science, social science and physical science can provide further tools for innovation. Nursing students should continue to aim for leadership roles on interdisciplinary teams.
About Bukola