Lukoye Atwoli, the son of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General, Francis Atwoli, on Sunday, February 5, opened up about an experience that shaped his illustrious career.
Speaking to KTN's Doctor's Diary, Atwoli intimated that he developed interest in medicine when he was admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), when he was young.
He revealed that when he was a Class 6 pupil at the Eastleigh Airport Primary School, he was taken ill with severe malaria and consequently admitted at KNH.
"I developed severe malaria. I was taken to KNH and was admitted there for several days, probably more than a week. I was drifting into and out of consciousness most of the time," the doctor noted.
Atwoli noted that although he was barely conscious, he always found himself surrounded by doctors whenever he was awake. The doctors would prescribe medication that would make him feel better.
Aged 12 years, he was impressed by the manner in which the doctors handled his case from admission to when he recuperated. Particularly, he was intrigued by the professionalism and the execution of the doctors.
"As I got better and better, I engaged them in conversation. But when I left KNH upon discharge, I was really impressed by the kind of care I received at that time.
"I was impressed by the learned conversations because I felt that they helped me to get better, and so when I went home, I was convinced that I wanted to be one of those guys," Atwoli stated.
Guided by his vision, Lukoye put in the required effort. After sitting his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at Jamhuri High School in 1993, he was admitted to Moi University to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree.
He furthered his education and graduated with a Master of Medicine in Psychiatry from the University of Nairobi in 2006 and a doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town (2015).
Currently the Dean of the Medial College, East Africa at the Aga Khan University, Lukoye is a Visiting Scientist at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and an Honorary Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town.
