At five years old, while many children were playing with their dolls, Margaret Fatuma Sultan was operating on them.
Now a first-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at Aga Khan University, Kenya and a class representative for her cohort, Margaret traces her fascination with medicine back to those early moments of curiosity.
Inspired by the animated series Doc McStuffins, about a young girl who treats toys as patients, she began stitching and “treating" her stuffed animals, turning playtime into what she jokingly describes as a neighbourhood clinic.
As she grew older, Fatuma's dream of becoming a doctor remained constant. Her parents supported her ambition, but like many families, they also had questions about what such a demanding career might mean for her future.
“They would ask me, 'If you become a surgeon, won't you marry late? Won't you have children late? Will you even find someone who understands that kind of career?'" she says.
Despite those concerns, they continued to encourage her to pursue medicine.
When the time came to apply for medical school, it was her parents who introduced her to the Aga Khan University.
“They had heard people speak very positively about the University," she says. “So they encouraged me to look into it and apply."
On her first day at the University, during a campus tour, one experience stood out.
“I remember visiting the Centre for Innovation in Medical Education," she says. “They showed us simulation mannequins that blink, breathe, and even simulate seizures. It was incredible."
The experience convinced her that she was entering an environment designed to train doctors at the highest level. Just as important was the atmosphere.
“In our class, there were more women than men," she says. “In the classroom, gender didn't matter; everyone was treated equally, which goes against the common belief that medicine is mainly for males."
Six months into her studies at Aga Khan University, Fatuma has already taken on an unexpected leadership role as a class representative.
“I had promised myself I'd be more outgoing at university," she says with a laugh. “Then someone joked that I should be the class rep, and before I knew it, my name was up for a vote."
She won.
Though the responsibility felt daunting at first, the role has helped her grow more confident and proactive, regularly coordinating with lecturers and addressing classmates' concerns.
Looking ahead, Fatuma remains certain about the path she chose years ago.
“Don't procrastinate," she advises younger students. “Work hard, stay curious, and don't be afraid to pursue what you really want."
As the world marked International Women's Day, she said she hopes more girls will feel encouraged to pursue fields like medicine and surgery.
