Beyond the Clinic: Occupational Medicine, Workplace Safety & Career Paths in Ghana

In this February 2026 episode of MNEMOS: Med School & Beyond, Dr. Richeal Shola Makinde sits down with Dr. Tetteh Odjidja, an Occupational and Public Health Physician based in Tarkwa, Ghana, to unpack a specialty many medical students rarely hear about but one that quietly protects lives, livelihoods, and entire workplaces. From heartbreaking workplace injury stories to real-world cases where a single clinical decision prevents death or disaster, Dr. Odjidja explains what occupational medicine truly involves: risk assessment, ergonomics, safety-critical fitness decisions, rehabilitation, workman’s compensation, and the legal/ethical responsibilities behind every “fit” or “unfit” signature. This conversation also highlights why occupational health in Ghana still has major gaps especially the absence of a national Occupational Health & Safety Bill and what advocacy, policy, and systems change could look like in the next decade. If you’ve ever wondered about alternative medical career paths with strong impact, flexibility, and systems-level relevance this one is for you.