Awakening Doctor

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 of growing up in apartheid-era South Africa to becoming a passionate advocate for marginalised communities and a leading champion for gender-affirming care.  

Drawing on a rich tapestry of personal and professional experiences, Elma 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, Elma 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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Host:
Dr Maria Christodoulou

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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 Awakening Doctor, 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. Danielle 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 Danielle’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 vulnerability beneath the white coats.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation that strives to give voice to the passion and commitment of junior doctors who are 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, Danielle's story is sure to resonate.

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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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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, Yonela 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,” Yonela'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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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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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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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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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, Professor 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 [email protected] to find out more.

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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

In considering the landscape of modern healthcare, the conversation often centres around technological advancements, groundbreaking treatments, and cutting-edge research. In this episode of Awakening Doctor, 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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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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If you’ve ever felt like a square peg in a round-hole world, especially within the hallowed halls of medicine, then this episode of Awakening Doctor is for you. Dr. Gianna Brummer, a medical doctor with extensive psychotherapeutic training, shares her personal story of reclaiming body, mind, and soul within medical practice.

Together, we explore the evolution of her career from the confines of conventional medicine to an intuitive, soul-based coaching approach, and reflect on the value of self-awareness and intuition in guiding both patient and practitioner through difficult times.

With personal revelations and professional insights on the delicate interplay between body and soul, alongside an exploration of the challenges of medical education and ethical dilemmas in the medical hierarchy, this conversation is a heartfelt exploration of sensitivity, empathy, and the courage required to align your career with the call of your soul.

Join us for an opportunity to view healthcare and health professionals through a wider, more inclusive lens - one that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever felt misplaced or misunderstood within the traditional healthcare system.

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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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Dr. Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson is a medical doctor, clinical epidemiologist and physician coach whose story weaves together threads of traditional wisdom, social justice, and cutting-edge medical practice. 

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we explore the many contrasts that have defined her professional career, the legacy that shapes her holistic approach to patient care, and her deep conviction that equitable healthcare is a right, not a privilege, no matter the setting or the context. 

From her experiences in aesthetic medicine to her work with marginalised communities in the Johannesburg CBD, and her involvement with grassroots public health initiatives and global health programs, Dr. Nondumiso's story showcases the transformative potential of redefining conventional notions of a medical career, and highlights the myriad of ways a medical degree can be leveraged to effect change. 

Her insights serve as a reminder that medicine is not just a science. It's an art, a spiritual practice, and a voyage of continuous learning and discovery. Join us as we discover the multi-faceted dimensions of a career shaped by a spiritual calling and an unwavering dedication to positive change.

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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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The late Professor Lynette Denny was one of medicine’s foremost trailblazers in the field of cervical cancer research. A world-renowned gynaecological oncologist, distinguished scientist, and passionate advocate for women’s health issues around the globe.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, recorded a few weeks before her passing, Lyn talked candidly about her lifetime of public service in South Africa, her unwavering dedication to her patients, and her own experience of living with advanced breast cancer. Medical errors, illness narratives, institutional and systemic failures, confrontations with death, and the challenges of navigating both sides of the doctor-patient divide were all in the mix as we contemplated the delicate balance between providing care and receiving it.

Her story is both a celebration of the extraordinary commitment of medical professionals and a confrontation with the complex and layered realities of healthcare - a nexus of personal battles, societal challenges and systemic inequities intertwined with the relentlessness of the human spirit.

Join us for a compelling and poignant reminder of the human side of medicine and the enduring legacy of a woman with an unwavering dedication to cause and calling.

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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:
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Dr Paul Abramowitz is a specialist periodontist, sex and intimacy therapist, and the author of "Sexed, Hardwired by Nature, Evolving by Choice". 

From childhood epiphanies about the nature of reality to the legacy of his family’s medical lineage and the weighty influence of apartheid, race, privilege, and an ongoing journey with long COVID, Paul's story is an invitation to a deeper conversation about the complex intersectionality of being human.

In this episode of Awakening Doctor, we delve into his personal story and learn about his ground-breaking research on male sexuality; a roadmap for bridging the divide between biology and consciousness and cultivating deeper, more meaningful connection with our intimate partners.

Join us for a thought-provoking reflection on the interplay of social, biological, and invisible forces that shape our lives.

Learn more about Paul’s work here: https://sexed.global/

Follow Paul on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulabro/

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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