Made in Fulham
It never fails to surprise us what a talented bunch you Fulham folks are. Each month Urban Village Ldn introduces you to THe Fulham face behind an idea, product or business and asks them what they love about being a local resident.
This month we talk to Dr Stephanie OOI who practices at My Healthcare clinic in fulham and is also known on instagram as @the_GP-MUm
How long have you called Fulham home? Three years! Although we haven't lived here for very long it really does feel like home. I went to Imperial College to study medicine and was based around Charing Cross Hospital so this neck of the woods feels very familiar.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your family. Myself and my husband are both General Practitioners (GPs) and met at medical school. On the very first day someone told us that a third of us would end up together and that many of us would also end up being GPs. We haven't been very original have we?! We both work at a family owned clinic - MyHealthcare Clinic (www.myhealthcareclinic.com) - a private GP and Dental clinic in Fulham Broadway and Wandsworth. We have a two year old daughter who is a little firecracker and certainly keeps us busy!
What's your favourite local haunt? Being a parent to a toddler means I am frequently at the playground! We are so lucky to have so many green spaces nearby. I love Bishops Park in the Summer especially on a Sunday morning when the farmer's market is on. If you haven't tried the Banh Mi from the Vietnamese food truck you need to give it a go!
What's your slice of Fulham heaven and why? Oh gosh, it's hard to choose! A local coffee and flower shop called Ella's opened up nearby this year and it's been so lovely to watch it grow. They even sell wine which one of the girls has sourced herself. It's my go-to place for flowers - either for home or if taking them to someone else's house.
If you could do one thing to improve Fulham what would it be? One thing that does make me a little anxious is the seeming increase in crime and targeting of the area. I'm signed up to Nextdoor which is a great neighbourhood app but am constantly aware of the unfortunate burglaries and scams that are happening. I feel like it's part of living in London but I would definitely change this if I had a magic wand.
When, how and why did you decide to become a GP? I decided during medical school during my 5th year placement at a GP surgery. Whilst I enjoyed hospital medicine, I just knew that GP was where I belonged. I love the nature of the work and the breadth of knowledge that is needed. I am constantly learning. I appreciate it's not as easy now but I really love the continuity of care in seeing the same patients and getting to know them. It also really lends itself well to part-time working which I really appreciate as a working parent.
What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking of pursuing a career in medicine? Go for it! But first get some work experience and make sure you get a real feel for what it's like. Many think of it as a glamorous career but in reality it really isn't! It's a lot of hard work during medical school and working as a Doctor can be tough too. Long days, working at the weekends and doing night shifts. However, it can be such a rewarding job and that's why I love it so much.
Thank you for talking to Urban Village LDN Stephanie.