Our story so far
From a registry of Somali medics in 2018 to a national association that gives evidence in Parliament and hosts Europe's Somali medical conference.
Before the BSMA had its name, its founders ran the first Access to Medicine course for school and sixth-form students considering medicine. It became an annual event.
After creating a registry of Somali medics, Drs Zakariye Ashkir, Abdifatah Mohamud and Sakaria Ali founded the British Somali Medical Association. With Dr Samira Hassan and Dr Guled Adan they formed the first BSMA committee.
The BSMA ran its first course for international medical graduates, led by Dr Hafsa Ahmed (IMG Lead), helping Somali doctors trained abroad adapt to the UK health system.
The BSMA held its first community event, a mental health workshop in Birmingham, led by Dr Samira Hassan (Vice-President and Community Lead).
More than 150 Somali medics attended the BSMA Launch Gala Dinner in London.
The BSMA launched a COVID-19 media campaign to bring critical guidance to the UK Somali community, through mosques, webinars and the media.
The BSMA held its first conference, a live webinar on COVID-19 and the Somali community. Its COVID-19 work gained international recognition, including an Al Jazeera feature.
The BSMA held a second COVID-19 conference, in Somali and English, on the vaccine. In January 2021 it formally recommended the approved COVID-19 vaccines to the UK Somali community and warned against misinformation.
The BSMA Lecture Series opened with Dr Mohamed Abdi Jama, former Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization, on universal health coverage in Somalia.
The BSMA Scholars Programme began, led by Dr Sumaya Gurhan (Widening Participation Lead), to support Somali students applying to medicine.
The BSMA launched its Specialty Webinars, guiding members through applications for specialty training.
The BSMA held its first post-COVID Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony, at the Royal College of General Practitioners in central London.
BSMA membership reached 300.
The BSMA started its first Resident Doctor Teaching Programme for early-career doctors.
The BSMA held its inaugural National Academic Conference on 8 June in Birmingham, bringing together more than 200 Somali doctors, medical students and allied health professionals, with Dahabshiil UK as main sponsor.
The BSMA held its second National Conference on 14 June, its largest yet.
The BSMA represented UK doctors at the first European Somali Medical Conference, in Helsinki, alongside Somali medical associations from across Europe.
The 3rd BSMA Committee takes office, for 2025 to 2027.
The BSMA, represented by Co-Founder Dr Sakaria Ali, a consultant paediatrician, gave oral evidence to the House of Lords Childhood Vaccinations Committee, bringing the experience of Somali families to Parliament. Read more
The BSMA hosted the European Somali Medical Conference 2026 at the Royal College of General Practitioners in London. The conference sold out, with more than 300 Somali healthcare professionals from across Europe and beyond. Read more
On behalf of the European Somali Medical Council, the BSMA launched a research lecture series for final-year medical students at Somali National University in Mogadishu, starting on 31 October. Read more
From our archive
Health guidance in Somali from the early months of the pandemic, and our work on mental health awareness.