The Dr Coffee Podcast

In this week's Coffee with Consultants feature, I sat down with Dr Jay Punwasi, about the role of a clinical manager at a hospital entails, and also to talk about the important steps junior doctors need to chart a course for the the early phase of their career and how to choose a site for their Community Service year. Dr Jay Punwasi is a medical doctor and healthcare manager. She is currently the Clinical Director at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Her purpose in her career is to advance patient services by engaging her clinical and MBA training and experience in all aspects of healthcare. 

As a trained business and life coach, Dr Puwnasi has a special interest in developing young healthcare practitioners through coaching and mentoring so the next generation of doctors and allied practitioners is better equipped to run the marathon of a career in healthcare. Dr Punwasi has won multiple service excellence awards in her career including the South African Medical Association Young Leader in Healthcare award. She is a mother of two girls aged 12 and 9, the wife of a university professor and a community activist involved in organisations that promote education and learning, reading amongst young children, and social and community improvement. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and I’m sure you will as well.

Important resources and links mentioned in this episode:

Our Linktree URL: https://linktr.ee/drcoffeeza

Well, that’s it for this week’s episode. I’d like to take a moment to direct you briefly to our Linktree URL (above), and our instagram page, @DrCoffeeZA. There you’ll find links to all our podcast episodes, some of the collaborators we’ve been working with, as well as a Google Form you can complete if you’re interested in working with the Dr Coffee Podcast. Whether it be collaborating on an event at your medical school with a student society or interest-group, featuring guests in episodes or special segments, or if you’d like to advertise on the podcast with pre-roll, mid-roll or post-roll ads. If you believe, like we do, in the potential and talent of south africa’s junior doctors and future doctors, and would like to work together to make a positive difference, hit us up via the Google Form and we’ll be in touch soon. You can also email us on the podcast’s email address, at [email protected]

The 2nd of June 2023 is CrazySock4Docs day, a day to shine a light on the mental health of doctors. This is our chance to talk about it, break the stigma associated with mental illness, and to be there for one another. In this very special episode, I have the privilege and honour of interviewing my beautiful wife Carmen, who has been so brave and kind as to open up about her own struggles with anxiety and depression. This episode really hits close to home. I cannot over-state how significant it is that my wife has agreed to open up on the podcast like this, especially because of how anxiety and depression have affected her over the years. She clearly believes in what we will share in this episode so strongly that she is able to put her own discomfort and fear aside, to help some doctor or medical student who needs to hear it.

Consider sharing this episode with fellow junior doctors and medical students in your world who you think would benefit from the content and enjoy it. Thank you so much for your support! If you have feedback on what you thought of this episode or anything else on your mind, please get in touch. The podcast’s email address is [email protected]

Important Mental Health Resources

In this week's "Coffee with Consultants" feature, my guest is Professor Joji Mercier, an associate professor at the University of Pretoria. Prof Joji has experience as an emergency medicine doctor with international SOS - flying doctors involved in medical rescue and transportation across borders and overseas - as well as extensive experience as a lecturer of medical students and scientific researcher. She was enthusiastically recommended by another consultant guest on the podcast, Professor Ryan Blumenthal, from Episode 24 of the Dr Coffee Podcast. Prof Joji has a really engaging and interesting journey in medicine, as well as a number of key insights to share with junior doctors and medical students. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation, and I’m sure you will as well.

The Dr Coffee podcast was recently featured on ⁠Feedspot’s global list of the Top 45 motivational podcasts for Students⁠. This list is based on a combination of social media reach, podcast audience on major podcast platforms, and the amount of people sharing and interacting with the content. The Dr Coffee Podcast appears at number 24. Check it out!

2 June 2023 is the date of the annual CRAZY SOCKS 4 DOCS initiative, which is all about shining a light on mental health of doctors. Multiple studies have demonstrated that not only do our South African doctors have a higher prevalence of depression than our general population, they also have a higher prevalence of burnout than doctors in other countries, with a higher incidence of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. These same studies also show that due to the stigma associated with mental health disorders, denial or just pure lack of awareness, South African doctors with depression or burnout do not seek help or treatment. The WARDWORX APP are on a mission to change that. To encourage conversations, break the stigma, and remind you that you aren’t alone, and it’s okay to not be okay. Click the link below to visit the WardWorx Linktree for more information on Crazy Socks 4 Docs, and visit their instagram for a chance to WIN special edition SOX for yourself and your team mates!

Important links and resources mentioned in this episode:

If you have feedback on this episode, please get in touch and send us an email to [email protected]. Thank you for your support!

This special episode of the Dr Coffee Podcast, we feature a non-profit organisation doing amazing work in our community and country. It’s our pleasure to present this episode in collaboration with the Smile Foundation SA and Burnshield. The month of May has been marked as Burns Awareness Month by the National Burns Association of South Africa (NBASA), with a key focus on the week between the 6th and 12th of May 2023. I was privileged and honoured to be invited to the Smile Foundation offices in Hyde park, Johannesburg, to discuss "burns awareness week", as well as the Smile Foundation Smile week occurring at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, sponsored by Burnshield.

My guests today are Kim Robertson Smith, the CEO of Smile Foundation, Cara Garnitz, the head of Marketing at Burnshield, and Brian Smith, the donor officer at Smile Foundation. They educated and inspired me with the incredible work of the Smile Foundation and the amazing products produced by Burnshield, definitely an important part of the acute management of all kinds of burns on all skin types for all ages of patients.

Links to Smile Foundation and Burnshield

1. Smile Foundation:

2. Burnshield

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BurnshieldZA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnshieldza/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLscPDNPN7eNegtWVMhpVvQ

Whatsapp Burn Bot: wa.me/+27872502876?text=Hi

As always, If you have feedback on this episode, please get in touch and send us an email to [email protected]. Thank you for your support!

Welcome to this special episode of the Dr Coffee Podcast, produced in collaboration with the Wits Students’ Physician Society. In this episode, we're talking all about the Graduate Entry into Medicine Program (GEMP) at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in Johannesburg, South Africa. A podcast in two parts, this episode was recorded at a live event which took place on the 26th of April 2023 at the Faculty of Health Sciences lecture halls at WITS. The event was well-attended, and recorded in front of a live audience of prospective medical students who wanted to learn more about GEMP and the WITS Additional Placement Test (WAPT).

In part 1, I’m joined by 4 current medical students at WITS to explain our journeys into GEMP. We’ll share a lot of practical advice along the way and I’m sure you’ll be able to identify with parts of our stories, whether you’re currently a medical student or considering studying medicine at Wits. 

In Part 2, our panel dives further into some more specific questions about the WAPT exam and GEMP, as well as sharing a little more about what you can expect once you are accepted into medicine, so be sure to tune into part 2 as well. 

1. WITS GEMP website - https://www.wits.ac.za/health/gemp/

2. AMP’d for the WAPT

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ampd4wapt?lang=en

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ampd4thewapt/?hl=en\

Telegram group - https://t.me/joinchat/Vlkgs9ttCGIUlYil

Google Drive - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D1uBsYCsG9VbyQxsDWdUCUDXp8oJBYTD

3. The WITS Students’ Physician Society

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @wits_physician_soc - https://www.instagram.com/wits_physician_soc/

YouTube: The Wits Students’ Physician Society - https://www.youtube.com/@thewitsstudentsphysicansoc220

4. The Dr Coffee Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @drcoffeeza - https://www.instagram.com/drcoffeeza/

YouTube: Dr Coffee ZA

Podcast Platforms: The Dr Coffee Podcast

Welcome (again) to this special episode of the Dr Coffee Podcast, produced in collaboration with the Wits Students’ Physician Society. In this episode, we're talking all about the Graduate Entry into Medicine Program (GEMP) at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) in Johannesburg, South Africa. A podcast in two parts, this episode was recorded at a live event which took place on the 26th of April 2023 at the Faculty of Health Sciences lecture halls at WITS. The event was well-attended, and recorded in front of a live audience of prospective medical students who wanted to learn more about GEMP and the WITS Additional Placement Test (WAPT).

To recap, in part 1, our panelists explained their journeys into GEMP. Now in Part 2, our panel addressed specific questions about the WAPT exam and GEMP that were submitted via a google form in the weeks leading up the event. We had an overwhelming response, and were able to aggregate the questions to ensure we provided the most helpful answers possible to the most possible people. You’ll also learn a little more about what you can expect once you are accepted into medicine, and what the student timetable is like in the 4 years of GEMP.

1. WITS GEMP website - https://www.wits.ac.za/health/gemp/

2. AMP’d for the WAPT

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ampd4wapt?lang=en

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ampd4thewapt/?hl=en\

Telegram group - https://t.me/joinchat/Vlkgs9ttCGIUlYil

Google Drive - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D1uBsYCsG9VbyQxsDWdUCUDXp8oJBYTD

3. The WITS Students’ Physician Society

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @wits_physician_soc - https://www.instagram.com/wits_physician_soc/

YouTube: The Wits Students’ Physician Society - https://www.youtube.com/@thewitsstudentsphysicansoc220

4. The Dr Coffee Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @drcoffeeza - https://www.instagram.com/drcoffeeza/

YouTube: Dr Coffee ZA

Podcast Platforms: The Dr Coffee Podcast

https://linktr.ee/drcoffeeza

Welcome to episode 32! This week we dive into the topic of locum work - freelancing as a medical professional in a practice that is not your own. This can be an extremely rewarding and profitable work option for junior doctors after internship and community service years, and has the added benefit of giving the medical professional a measure of autonomy and freedom, while you explore your interests and build your portfolio. As such, of course this makes it an important topic for junior doctors and medical students. 

Our guests this episode:

This episode of the podcast we’re featuring LocumBase.com, the independent online booking and management platform connecting freelance medical professionals and practices. You can visit their website https://www.locumbase.com/ or their socials here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/locumbase/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/locumbase/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LocumBase

Zulé Vuuren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zule-vuuren/

Jovana Harkhu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missjovanaharkhu/

Important links from this week's episode:

If you have feedback on this episode, please get in touch. The podcast’s email address is [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, with the username “@DrCoffeeZA". While you're here, please consider leaving a review or rating of the podcast on whatever platform you're currently listening on.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may want to check out our other episodes, or share with a friend who think might be interested. You can find the Dr Coffee Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Thank you for listening and have a great week!

Welcome to episode 30! In this week’s coffee with consultants feature, I had the immense privilege and honour of interviewing Dr Efrat Barnes, a clinician at the Teddy Bear Clinic, an important part of the Teddy Bear Foundation’s work against child abuse in all its forms, as well as a neurodevelopmental specialist at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. 

Dr Efrat is a fantastic human being, a mother, a wife, and a doctor working to save and improve the lives of children who have either been through intense trauma or are at serious risk of harm. She has also been through extreme trials over the past three years in her own physical and mental health - something we address during the interview - and has so much to share with you - the listeners of the Dr Coffee Podcast, to enlarge your understanding and equip you for being a better doctor.

It’s almost impossible to overstate the importance of the work the Teddy Bear Clinic is doing, as an important medico-legal and forensic clinic for assessing victims and their families and building cases that ultimately put the perpetrators of abuse behind bars. In addition, they offer counselling and support services to victims and families, conduct outreach and education programmes, and train multi-disciplinary teams as well as specialists such as paediatric registrars and consultants to diagnose, treat and refer in cases of all forms of abuse.

This episode, which only *touches* the surface of what Dr Efrat and the Teddy Bear Clinic does, is part of our desire and effort on the Dr Coffee Podcast to spotlight topics that are especially important to practising medicine in South Africa. Of course, we love podcasts, and there are many podcasts available about the wide world of medicine and surgery and the array of subspecialties within them, but few that are set in a South African context and address uniquely South African problems and solutions. It is a privilege to be able to contribute to the conversation and development of junior doctors and medical students in South Africa.

In addition to this episode, we hope to have Dr Efrat Barnes on the podcast for a future panel discussion episode we have planned all about the problem of Gender-based violence in our country, so watch out for that. It goes without saying that the nature of the content of this episode of the Dr Coffee podcast may be triggering to some listeners, so please be advised, and do reach out for help if necessary.

Thank you again to our special guest, Dr Efrat Barnes, for sharing so freely from her professional and personal life. If you have feedback on what you thought of this episode or anything else on your mind, please get in touch. The podcast’s email address is ⁠[email protected]⁠. We’re also on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠Youtube⁠. Submit a voice message to the Dr Coffee Podcast ⁠here⁠: https://anchor.fm/simon-fraser8/message

Lastly, while you’re here, please leave a rating or review of the podcast! Consider sharing this episode with fellow junior doctors and medical students in your world who you think would benefit from the content and enjoy it. Thank you so much for your support!

BUYING A CAR - whether new off the showroom floor or secondhand - is one of the biggest financial commitments a young professional can make. For junior doctors especially, the opportunity to purchase a motor vehicle usually comes only after 6 years (or longer) of hard work as a student, and with a sudden increase in financial resources and funding models. Many banks and financial institutions are willing to offer large amounts of credit finance to graduated doctors at appealing interest rates, banking on the future success of these young professionals and their earning potential. While the decision of what car to purchase may seem a daunting one, applying a number of important principles to your search can make doing your due diligence an adventure and significantly easier.

In this episode of the Dr Coffee Podcast, I interviewed Matthew Kanniah [Heart of Motion], a motoring journalist and professional car-content creator who is one of South Africa's leading young voices when it comes to cars. Matthew provides 'new-generation' knowledge of the motoring industry and the finance options available from dealers to buyers, as well as the latest features and perks to watch out for in new model cars. We were joined by Sebastian Karsas, co-owner and director at Car Sales Exclusive, who not only provided a brilliant setting for our interview in their garage surrounded by luxury cars, but also weighed in to the discussion with his experience of the secondhand motor vehicle industry in South Africa and the value proposition to young professionals seeking to buy a new car with a bit of 'flex' without breaking the budget. You can check them out at https://carsalesexclusive.co.za/, or simply search Car Sales Exclusive on Google. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation, and I'm sure you will as well.

This episode might not tell you exactly which model of car is best for you, but by the end of it you should have a much clearer idea about what sort of car buyer you are and what deal suits you best, so you can make the best decision possible in finding a car that is 'fit for purpose' and makes your travels a pleasure. In addition, it's worth noting that this podcast episode was almost "the most-anticipated interview that didn't make it". That's because of some significant challenges in post-production, particularly with the audio, so I am extremely happy that we're all finally able to enjoy this episode, more than three months after recording. Check out the video interview in full HD on YouTube - I think it deserves the 1hr20minute runtime, and I hope you'll agree by subscribing to the channel on YouTube, liking and sharing this episode, and engaging in the comments.

If you have feedback on what you thought of this episode or anything else on your mind, please get in touch. The podcast’s email address is [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube.