Dame Elizabeth Anionwu DBE FRCN, UK’s First Sickle-Cell & Thalassemia Nurse Specialist

The Millie Podcast

We are honoured to welcome Dame Elizabeth Anionwu DBE FRCN to The Millie Podcast. Recently named a ‘BBC 100 Women of the Year’, Elizabeth is Emeritus Professor of Nursing at University of West London, and the UK’s first sickle-cell and thalassemia nurse specialist. She has continued her work into retirement, recently bringing the nation’s attention to the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on Black and Asian communities.

Many people heard her name for the first time at the Brit Awards, when Dua Lipa honoured Dame Elizabeth in her acceptance speech. "She has spent her stellar nursing career fighting racial injustice, she has also spent so much time and is a strong, strong advocate for protecting frontline workers"

Born in Birmingham in 1947, Elizabeth is of Irish/Nigerian heritage, which, along with being born to a single mother, greatly influenced her upbringing and identity. She writes about this in her recently released memoirs, Dreams From My Mother. It’s an incredible story about childhood, race, identity, family, hope – and how this shapes who we are. We can’t recommend it enough!

The Millie Podcast host Chelsea Brown and Elizabeth cover a lot in this episode – Elizabeth’s book, her early life living in care in a convent, sickle cell, travelling to Nigeria to meet her family, mentorship, and so much more. Elizabeth is a true hero, and her thoughtful reflection and insight into her own life, medicine, and the world at large has so much to teach us!

Visit here to find out more about Dame Elizabeth and visit here to purchase here Dreams From My Mother.

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