Prof. Nomafrench Mbombo is a distinguished leader with over three decades of experience spanning healthcare, academia, politics, and public service; a woman with an unwavering commitment to social justice, equitable healthcare and the empowerment of marginalised communities.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we learn about her humble beginnings in Mdantsane township, her thwarted ambitions to go to medical school, and the fortuitous dismissal and chance encounter that led her to study nursing and attain a Master's in Maternal and Child Health, and a PhD in Gender and Human Rights instead. We also delve into her tenure as the first female, first Black African, and first health professional to serve as the Minister of Health and Wellness in the Western Cape.

Fueled by an indomitable spirit and a deep-seated conviction that the only way forward is to leave no-one behind, Prof. Mbombo is unapologetic in her assertion that "it's okay to be a bloody difficult woman” – one who disrupts, demands and delivers in her endeavour to birth a new reality in the world around her.

Join us for an inspiring conversation that is a testament to the power of feminine leadership and a reminder that the past does not define our destiny - our ability to adapt and persevere does.

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If you enjoy these conversations and would like to support our work, please consider donating to the podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small and your support means the world to us. Thank you!

Credits:
Hosted by Dr Maria Christodoulou
Produced and edited by Amy Kaye

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Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

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From her achievement as the Miss South Africa runner-up in 2021 to her impactful roles as medical doctor, health advocate and social media influencer, Dr Moratwe Masima is determined to redefine what it means to be a health professional in the 21st century.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we explore her commitment to living an intentional life, the courage to dream big, and the tension between perfectionism and vulnerability in choosing to define success on your own terms and in the public eye.

Dr Masima opens up about the pressure she experienced as a first-generation medical student, the impact of early encounters with the fragility of life and death, and the stark contrast between her naïve expectations of medical school and the harsh realities of clinical practice and the medical curriculum - an important forewarning for anyone in the early stages of considering a career in medicine.

We explore her aspirations for a non-traditional career path, the role of risk and failure in attaining her goals, and her approach to balancing authenticity and professionalism on social media.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about self-belief, perseverance, and the power of dreaming big. Dr. Masima’s story is a message of hope and encouragement for anyone seeking to carve out their own unique path in life.

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If you enjoy these conversations and would like to support our work, please consider donating to the podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small and your support means the world to us. Thank you!

Credits:
Hosted by Dr Maria Christodoulou
Produced and edited by Amy Kaye

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningdoctor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

Thank you for listening!

In this inspiring episode of Awakening Doctor, senior family physician and MBChB Programme Coordinator at Nelson Mandela University, Professor Elma de Vries, reflects on her journey from growing up in apartheid-era South Africa to becoming a passionate advocate for marginalised communities and leading champion for gender-affirming care.

Drawing on a rich tapestry of personal and professional experiences, Prof. de Vries provides insights into the systemic challenges of building a new medical school in the Eastern Cape, reflects on the enduring legacy of inequality in healthcare, and shares her groundbreaking contributions to transgender health, including co-authoring South Africa’s first gender-affirming care guidelines.

The episode delves into themes of resilience, empathy, and activism, and explores the power of recognising shared humanity in the face of intersecting inequalities.
From advocating for rural healthcare to navigating the complexities of professional identity formation as a researcher and academic, Prof. de Vries offers a deeply personal and thought-provoking perspective on driving meaningful change in a challenging environment.

We discuss the critical importance of creating safe, affirming spaces for all patients, her vision for a more compassionate healthcare system, and her enduring hope for a world where everyone is free to live as their authentic self.

Join us for a conversation that will leave you informed, inspired, and challenged to embrace compassion as a force for change.

Key Takeaways:

• Insights into systemic barriers facing marginalised populations in South African healthcare.
• The transformative potential of gender-affirming care and inclusive medical education.
• How empathy and perseverance can inspire profound change in healthcare and beyond.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

SOUTHERN AFRICAN HIV CLINICIANS SOCIETY GENDER-AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE GUIDELINE FOR SOUTH AFRICA: https://sahivsoc.org/Subheader/Index/sahcs-guidelines

Professionals Association for Transgender Health (PATHSA): https://pathsa.org.za/

South African Family Practice journal article: https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5770/8174

Gender Dynamix: https://www.genderdynamix.org.za/

Helplines: https://findahelpline.com/countries/za/topics/gender-sexual-identity

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Support the show

If you enjoy these conversations and would like to support our work, please consider donating to the podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small and your support means the world to us. Thank you!

Credits:
Hosted by Dr Maria Christodoulou
Produced and edited by Amy Kaye

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningdoctor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

Thank you for listening!

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to endure the sleepless nights and emotional highs and lows of being a doctor? In this episode of the Awakening Doctor podcast, Dr. Danielle Botma offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a junior doctor in South Africa's public healthcare system.

Through the lens of her personal story, we’re made aware of the stark contrast between the idealism that drives young students into medical school, and the challenging realities they face in practice. Dr Botma speaks candidly about the ongoing pressure to excel, the personal sacrifices she has made, and the profound influence of impactful patient encounters.

Together, we explore the complex social and cultural factors that shape perceptions of what it means to be a doctor and reflect on Dr. Botma’s journey to embrace aspects of that identity. We also delve into the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health in the profession and peel back the layers of perceived perfection to reveal the humanity and vulnerability beneath the white coats.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation that strives to give voice to the passion and commitment of junior doctors dedicated to improving the lives of fellow South Africans. Whether you're a student considering a medical career, a practising professional, or simply curious about the insider’s perspective, Dr. Botma's story is sure to resonate.

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Support the show

If you enjoy these conversations and would like to support our work, please consider donating to the podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small and your support means the world to us. Thank you!

Credits:
Hosted by Dr Maria Christodoulou
Produced and edited by Amy Kaye

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningdoctor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

Thank you for listening!

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we meet Dr Yonela Sanelisiwe Kentane, a young doctor standing at the threshold of her medical career after completing six years of medical school, two years of internship, and one year of community service in South Africa’s public healthcare system.

As she navigates the uncertainty of her next steps and reveals the struggle to balance personal life with professional ambitions, Dr. Kentane speaks candidly about the physical exhaustion and emotional vulnerability that comes with the terrain and opens up about the painful impact of microaggressions she has faced along the way.

Despite and because of these challenges, her determination, optimism, and confidence have not wavered, demonstrating not only her strength but also her commitment to overcoming barriers in medicine and beyond - a legacy instilled by powerful role models in her family.

From her roots in the rural Eastern Cape to her journey of becoming a proud Stellenbosch "Dokter,” Dr Kentane's story is a powerful illustration of the complex ways in which the history and culture of medicine intertwine with the history and culture of a people.

Join us for this heartfelt glimpse into the experiences of a new and courageous generation of doctors who are committed to transforming the legacy of those who came before.

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Support the show

If you enjoy these conversations and would like to support our work, please consider donating to the podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small and your support means the world to us. Thank you!

Credits:
Hosted by Dr Maria Christodoulou
Produced and edited by Amy Kaye

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningdoctor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

Thank you for listening!

Is it possible to be a full human being when your profession demands so much of you? Does being a clinician require you to be removed from your patient’s experience, or from your own experience as you witness theirs? What is it that we need to protect in medicine? These are the questions that Dr Nabeela Kajee, medical doctor, writer, thinker, poet and Rhodes scholar, grapples with as she navigates the hallowed halls of academia.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we delve into her experiences at medical school and discover the hopes, triumphs, challenges, and twists of fate that brought her to Oxford University to pursue a PhD in Psychiatry. We reflect on the importance of self-awareness and intentionality in medical practice, and learn about the role models and mentors that have defined and shaped her commitment to humanising the profession.

Join us for an inspiring and thoughtful reflection on the intersection of identity, history, community and privilege in the quest to integrate the art and science of medicine.

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Support the show

If you enjoy these conversations and would like to support our work, please consider donating to the podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small and your support means the world to us. Thank you!

Credits:
Hosted by Dr Maria Christodoulou
Produced and edited by Amy Kaye

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningdoctor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

Thank you for listening!

What distinguishes a 21st-century paediatrician working in a resource-constrained setting from his predecessors? This is the question at the heart of Professor Regan Solomon’s leadership vision and one that he unassumingly answers with his own presence and way of being in the world.

A highly esteemed Paediatric Neurologist and the Executive Head of Paediatrics and Child Health at Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, Professor Solomons is deeply committed to challenging the status quo and advancing equitable healthcare for the children of South Africa.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we delve into his early inspirations, reflect on the many personal and professional milestones that have defined his life path, and explore his perspective on the importance of role models and mentors for the next generation.

From his illustrious research career to the invisible ancestral thread that led him to specialise in TB meningitis and the transformative initiative he spearheaded to support students facing food insecurity, Prof. Solomon’s story is testimony to what is possible when legacy and destiny intertwine with humanity and heart.

Join us for this inspiring narrative of a dedicated medical professional who is shaping the future of paediatric healthcare.

The Tygerberg Pantry Project assists students who experience food insecurity and/or a need for other basic items. Please help them to create a sustainable culture of sharing vital resources by making a donation:

Bank: Standard Bank
Account holder: Stellenbosch University
Reference: Pantry project KP R5232
Account number: 073006955

Alternatively, contact the chair, Shannon Swanepoel, at 24969028@sun.ac.za to find out more.

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Support the show

If you enjoy these conversations and would like to support our work, please consider donating to the podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small and your support means the world to us. Thank you!

Credits:
Hosted by Dr Maria Christodoulou
Produced and edited by Amy Kaye

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningdoctor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

Thank you for listening!

In considering the landscape of modern healthcare, the conversation often centres around technological advancements, groundbreaking treatments, and cutting-edge research. In this episode of the Awakening Doctor podcast, Professor Hoffie Conradie, Emeritus Professor of Family Medicine and dedicated life coach and mentor, reminds us that the heart of medicine lies in relationships and continuity of care.

As we navigate his lifelong commitment to rural family medicine and unravel the many different threads of his personal life story, we discover the pivotal role he has played in defining rural family practice and medical education. We also learn about the fundamental values, influences, and experiences that have shaped his transforming identity as a white, Afrikaans man in a post-apartheid South Africa.

From grappling with the tenets of his religious upbringing to embracing self-compassion, we learn that continuity of care applies not only to the relationship between a doctor and their patient, or a patient and the health system, but also to the continuously evolving trajectory and dedication to service that is Professor Conradie’s career.

Join us as we explore his unique perspectives on teaching, spirituality, personal development, and the role of coaching, mentoring and Taking Care in the healing professions.

The Taking Care initiative offers courses that cultivate resilience and joy for healthcare professionals working with stress and burnout. Find out more here: https://www.takingcare.co.za/

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Support the show

If you enjoy these conversations and would like to support our work, please consider donating to the podcast fund using the link above. Your contribution helps us cover production costs and keep bringing you great content. No amount is too small and your support means the world to us. Thank you!

Credits:
Hosted by Dr Maria Christodoulou
Produced and edited by Amy Kaye

Follow us on Social Media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakeningdoctor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

Website: https://www.awakeningdoctor.com/podcast

Thank you for listening!