Awakening Doctor

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we meet Dr Yumna Moosa, clinician-scientist, mathematician, mother, activist, and truth-teller.

Fresh from her PhD graduation, Yumna speaks with striking honesty about navigating motherhood and dealing with the breakdown of her marriage while completing her studies. She reflects on how trauma can disrupt even the most resilient among us, and how the love and support of family and friends helped her to reclaim her vibrant, fiery self.

She also recounts taking a public stand against bullying and harassment as a medical intern, and the price she paid for speaking truth to power. Together, we explore the uncomfortable reality that junior doctors face many of the same challenges even today, and reflect on what it means to pursue excellence in medicine without being dehumanised.

Amidst the seriousness, Yumna shares the passions that keep her grounded in joy - from motherhood, dancing and capoeira to mathematics, teaching and the celebration of learning. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, courage, and the power of truth-telling.

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If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

What are the deeper reasons that draw us into the healing professions, and how do they shape the way we practice medicine?

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, Dr Angela de Sá – family physician, integral coach, and senior lecturer at UCT's Department of Family, Community, and Emergency Care – reflects on the experiences that have shaped and defined her medical career. From childhood illness and loss, to leading a busy community health centre for 16 years, and the recent pivotal decision to step away from clinical practice in search of greater balance in her life.

Angela speaks candidly about the work ethic instilled by her immigrant parents, the role coaching played in opening up new ways of listening, leading, and relating, and the surprising difficulty of letting go of a long-standing role to embrace a new chapter. 

We explore themes of identity, resilience, and the unspoken costs of a profession that too often prioritises self-sacrifice over self-care. We also reflect on the complex relationship between creativity, perfectionism and self-worth, and the idea that tending to the 'human’ in healthcare is a pathway to transforming the practice of medicine.

Whether you’re a medical professional, a patient navigating the health system, or simply contemplating change, this episode offers a compassionate, thought-provoking look at what becomes possible when humanity is at the heart of healthcare.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

Professor Hennie Botha is a renowned gynaecological oncologist and the Executive Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Stellenbosch University. A leading clinician, teacher, mentor and researcher, with a particular interest in cervical cancer treatment and prevention. 

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, Prof Botha joins Dr Maria Christodoulou to reflect on his leadership journey and medical career. From his early clinical years at a small rural hospital in Malawi to leading an academic department through a time of socio-political transformation, he shares thoughtful insights into the challenges and rewards of academic leadership, and the cultural shifts he has witnessed in medicine over time.

Together, we explore the non-linear path of a medical career, the emotional complexity of working with cancer patients, and the importance of healthy boundaries for navigating grief as a clinician. We also reflect on the restorative power of music and mountains, and the role of humility, openness, and curiosity in facilitating meaningful change.

From quiet introspection to systemic transformation, this episode offers a measured yet powerful perspective on what it means to lead, to serve, and to grow - both as a clinician and as a human being. Join us for a thoughtful reminder that medicine is never just medical; it’s also personal, relational, and political.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

Servant leadership is not a job description; it’s a way of being. One that Professor Beth Engelbrecht has embodied with rare clarity and quiet conviction across more than three decades of public service in South Africa. 

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we learn about her extraordinary personal and professional journey from young district surgeon to transformative leader shaping a more ethical and resilient health system.

With honesty and humility, Prof. Engelbrecht reflects on the moments of awakening that have directed the course of her career and propelled her rise to leadership through South Africa’s transition to democracy and beyond.

We explore some of the challenges she has encountered as a woman in leadership and discover the strategies she employs to navigate power differentials, political complexity, and personal sacrifice. All whilst remaining deeply grounded in her commitment to faith, family, and service.

Join us for a thoughtful exploration of the inner workings of both a health system in transition and a servant leader with enduring grace.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

As a child, Dr. Anita Parbhoo waited in the car outside Cape Town’s world-renowned Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital while her father did pre-med ward rounds. Today, she leads that very same hospital as its CEO, and her innovative leadership contributions are setting a benchmark for excellence in child health services nationwide.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we trace her journey from those early formative moments to becoming a nationally recognised health leader and recipient of the 2024 Jakes Gerwel Award in Public Health.

Anita reflects candidly on the path from clinician to executive, sharing insights on overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating perfectionism as both a doctor and a mother, and learning to trust her intuition in uncharted terrain. With warmth and humility, she discusses the milestones that shaped her, her passion for mentoring future healthcare leaders, and her deep commitment to advocating for the voiceless.

Her leadership at Red Cross Children’s Hospital exemplifies a powerful evolution in healthcare - one that embraces emotional intelligence, recognises the interdependence of health systems, and remains rooted in compassion, connection, and purpose.

Whether she’s abseiling in a Snow White costume for a cause, championing small but impactful actions, or making time for meaningful connections, Anita’s story is an inspiring call to lead with heart and to see beyond hospital walls to the communities and environments that shape our children's health outcomes.

Join us for a heartfelt exploration of leadership, legacy, and the dedication it takes to change the system from within.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningDoctor

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

What happens when you walk away from the life everyone expects you to live?

 In this episode of Awakening Doctor, Dr. Aisha Moolla shares her personal story of walking away from a career in clinical medicine midway through her internship - not because she couldn’t do it, but because she finally surrendered to the truth that she didn’t want to.

Now a PhD candidate at the University of Sheffield, Aisha reflects with candid vulnerability on the pressure to pursue a conventional path, the guilt and shame that followed her decision to leave, and the liberation of beginning to forge a new path - one that is bridging disciplines and allowing her to claim a personal and professional identity beyond that of “medical doctor.”

We delve into the invisible toll of burnout, the trap of “just finish the next step and then things will get better” thinking, and the courage it takes to walk away in the face of resistance and recrimination. We also explore the power of humility and curiosity as guiding forces, and the profound transformation that can unfold when you begin to align your life with what truly brings you joy.

If you’re questioning your own career path, or standing on the edge of a life you know you need to leave behind, this conversation offers both practical insights and emotional truths to help you take the next best step.

Join us for a thought-provoking exploration of identity, courage, and the power of defining success on your own terms - beyond tradition and toward authenticity.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

Is it okay for a doctor to decide that medicine is not the nucleus of their life?

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we sit down with Dr. Hloni Bookholane, author of Becoming a Doctor: Learnings and unlearnings about life and the politics of medicine, to discuss his decision to walk away from clinical medicine shortly after completing his community service - a choice he likens to a difficult but necessary breakup.

We explore the transformative moments that defined his relationship to the profession and reflect on the complexity of navigating rigid medical hierarchies, making career pivots and redefining what it means to be a doctor.

We also challenge the deeply ingrained belief that leaving clinical practice is a ‘waste,’ reframing it as an act of self-determination that may signal a need for a paradigmatic shift in how we construct the doctor identity instead.

Whether you’re a medical educator, a student contemplating a medical career, or a clinician questioning your own career path, join us for a candid and thoughtful conversation about the culture of medicine and the courage it takes to carve out a personal identity beyond the hospital walls.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

Dr. Rosemary Pitsi is a dedicated young doctor currently working at a tertiary hospital in South Africa's North West province. She is also the founder of Book Buddies, a literacy initiative for underprivileged children, and co-founder of Medtimes, a medical rostering platform designed to streamline scheduling for healthcare workers and institutions.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we explore her journey of being and becoming a doctor - beyond the long hours and technical expertise to the heart of the human connections and responsibilities that define the profession.

As we reflect on her commitment to service, the role of emotional intelligence, and the intersection of literacy and healthcare, we learn about her love for medicine and surgery, the challenges of an unexpected and delayed community service placement, and the ongoing struggle to balance personal wellbeing with the demands of a medical career.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about resilience, advocacy, and the power of faith and family in staying true to one's purpose - both within and beyond the hospital walls.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

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 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 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, and reflect on the complex political dynamics that often overshadow service delivery. The conversation addresses pressing issues such as gender inequality, economic marginalization, and the importance of fostering support structures for young people navigating tough situations.

Fueled by an indomitable spirit and a deep-seated conviction that the only way forward is to leave no-one behind, Prof. Nomafrench 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 feminine leadership and a reminder that the past does not define our destiny - our ability to adapt and persevere does.

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Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

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. Moratwe’s story is a message of hope and encouragement for anyone seeking to carve out their own unique path in life.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you enjoyed this conversation and would like to support this work, please consider donating to our 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 for listening!

Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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

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