Dr Ononuju with her Physician of the Year award. - photos by Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

After more than 35 years as a physician, Dr Seni Ononuju was recognised as Physician of the Year by the Medical Association of Jamaica. She told Flair that it said a lot to her to be recognised for her work, especially by her patients. The award was instituted in 2008 and the recipient is voted for by his or her patients. The criteria include being professional at all times; showing compassion and empathy to patients; communicating well with patients; having a good knowledge of medicine; being involved in community outreach and volunteerism and being in good standing with the medical council of Jamaica.

A Nigerian native, Dr Ononuju came to Jamaica in 1974 to be with her husband who was already working on the island. She had always wanted to be a doctor but did her undergraduate degree in geology, minerology and chemistry. She noted that one day she was in the lab and had an accident and was burnt on her hands. She thought, "If I was in medicine this would have never happened." She further expressed that she was probably drawn to the profession because her dad was in medicine. But for her, "It's nice when you can help people. To see a smile on their face and know how much they have improved. Some patients are very sick and when they get better it's a different person."

Family medicine

Dr Ononuju specialises in family medicine and general surgery. She enjoys this field as it takes her through all the disciplines. According to her, she takes the time to explain to her patients their conditions and the medications they have been prescribed. "Before they leave I must tell them what it's for and I tell them when in doubt call me, I give them my cell number."

In her spare time, Dr Ononuju enjoys sewing -she wears a lot of Africa-inspired outfits she sews herself. She also swims to strengthen her back and help correct her various spinal problems.

Guided by the personal belief that "the greatest thing in the world is to be loved, to be needed and to be accepted as we are", her personal motto is "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

In her three decades of practising medicine in Jamaica, she has worked at Kingston Public Hospital, Bustamante Hospital for Children, National Chest Hospital and other public-health facilities. She currently operates privately at Winchester Medical Institute and Chancery Medical Centre.