Volunteering Reflections by Dr Adesola Ademiloye
Service to others and the community is a hallmark of our human existence. This conviction, rooted in my faith, reminds me that service to others is a vital part of life and leadership. My professional career and my involvement with the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) has been guided by the desire to serve and support others. Being part of IPEM has given me more than professional membership; it has connected me with a community that values integrity, innovation, and impact. By gaining the MIPEM and Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, IPEM has strengthened my professional identity and linked me with colleagues who share a passion for advancing healthcare through engineering and technology.
To me, IPEM membership is both an opportunity and a responsibility. One of the most rewarding outcomes of my membership was receiving the IPEM Innovation Grant in 2022 for my research on red blood cell membrane properties in diseased conditions. This support was instrumental in advancing my work and securing further research funding. As the Assistant Incorporated (IEng) Registrar on the Engineering Registration Panel, I support aspiring engineers in achieving professional recognition while offering diverse perspectives to the process. My role as an Editorial Board Member of international peer-reviewed journals, including IPEM/IOP Medical Engineering and Physics, has also allowed me to contribute to the wider research community and uphold scientific excellence. Volunteering with IPEM has also provided me with meaningful opportunities to contribute to the development of guidance and policy documents that shapes clinical engineering practice in the UK and across the world.
IPEM provides a platform for members to grow their professional knowledge through webinars and the Scope magazine, to mentor others, and to use their expertise for the greater good. I encourage anyone in (bio)medical engineering or physics to get involved. You are not just joining a professional body; you are joining a movement that combines knowledge with purposeful service.
In closing this reflective piece, I would like to echo the words of Winston Churchill, who once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” This timeless reminder captures the essence of IPEM and the spirit of service that defines our profession. Join us in making a difference. Diolch yn fawr iawn! (Thank you very much!)
Dr Adesola Ademiloye PhD, CEng MIPEM, FHEA, RPA
Editorial Board Member, Medical Engineering & Physics, IOP Publishing Editorial Board Member, Computational Methods in Structural Engineering, Frontier in Built Environment Lead Organiser and Co-editor, International Conference Series on Computational and Mathematical Biomedical Engineering.
Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, United Kingdom