Weekly update 28/10 - 01/11

Fatima Bhabha

Oct 27, 2024 — 5 min read

Hello, Team!

We’re thrilled to announce that we’re back up and running! We hope you missed us terribly during the two-week hiatus—trust us, we missed you more! We know you’ve been lost without our updates, but don’t worry because we’re here, ready, and excited to keep you informed and inspired.

First things first, huge congratulations to Dr. Aldehaff on the birth of her beautiful baby girl! Wishing you and your family all the joy and love during this precious time. We can’t wait to meet her !!

Monday Reminder:

Once you’ve completed your government ethics course, please make sure to email your certificate to:

• Ms Gail Walters at Head Office: [email protected]

• SBAH Ethics Officer, Ms Liezel van Duyker: [email protected]

• Hettie Steyn at UP: [email protected]

Tuesday Thought:

Reflecting on last week’s family meeting, we touched on some issues that may have seemed small or surprising to some. But it’s important for us to respect and acknowledge these concerns, particularly as we strive to foster a supportive, non-toxic work environment. Remember, medicine has often been framed as a place where hardship is the norm, but that narrative doesn’t have to continue. Dismissing someone’s struggles or making light of their concerns can deeply impact their experience and well-being.

Let’s also take a moment to appreciate where we are and the roles we hold. There’s talk of posts being frozen, so if you’re in a permanent or registrar post, count that as a blessing. Let’s keep doing our best for our patients and making the most of where we are.

A Personal Note:

On a personal note, I want to share a bit of my journey, as I know many of us wrestle with the unknowns in our careers. This year was a significant one for me—after completing my primaries, I applied for registrar posts at SMU, WITS (twice), and UCT. I thought I’d put in the groundwork and had a decent CV : I’ve got my DA, ACLS, BLS, basic icu course, a range of online courses, six months of ICU experience, and (after my first wits rejection) even some research experience under my belt. I figured I was well-prepared, yet here I am without an offer.

The process itself has been eye-opening. I was placed as number 8 on UCT’s list, so no offer in near sight. My second interview at WITS was familiar territory for the panel, who remembered me !!! but once again, I didn’t get a call back. At SMU, I didn’t receive any response at all. It makes you wonder sometimes, doesn’t it? I know I’m not alone in feeling this rollercoaster of anticipation and disappointment, especially in a field where the competition is intense and the posts are limited.

It’s made me reflect on expectations, not just from a career standpoint but also on a more personal level. Sometimes, you can feel like you’re doing everything “right”—following the checklist, working hard, building your experience—and yet, the doors don’t open as you’d hoped. And that brings a wave of questions: Is there something I could have done differently? Should I be doing more? Or maybe, am I simply meant to gain more experience where I am now? Or maybe I’m just really bad at doing interviews

I also struggle with the timeline I set in my head. You know how you can map out your career path, imagining that by this age or that year, you’ll have achieved certain milestones? And when things don’t align, it can feel like you’re losing control over your own journey. But if there’s one thing this process has shown me, it’s that growth doesn’t follow our schedules. The right opportunity may come, but perhaps it will do so in a way that I least expect.

For now, I’m learning to trust in the bigger picture and in the fact that maybe there are lessons in these moments of uncertainty. It’s not easy accepting that we’re on a different path than we planned, but sometimes the best things come from the unexpected.

I wanted to share this with you, not just to vent but to say that if you’re also feeling the weight of rejections or unmet expectations, you’re not alone. Medicine is tough, and the journey to becoming who we want to be is rarely a straight line. So, let’s keep leaning on each other, celebrating the small wins, and remembering that we’re all works in progress. And also appreciate your registrar post !! The grass is definitely not greener !!! And getting a post isn’t easy

Wednesday Reflection:

I saw a reel on Instagram about the power of friendship that resonated with me. in the reel the guy talks about how every wednesday him and friends send each other little videos, just proof of life and what they up to and any updates..and it motivated me to start something like that with my friends, called the Wednesday waffle ! In medicine, we’re always moving, meeting new people, and sometimes losing touch with old friends. Isn’t it beautiful how friendship endures despite time or distance? It’s one of the few things in life that lets you pick up right where you left off. Let’s try to hold onto that connection, wherever we go.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBccHY0Rm2y/?igsh=MWVueXJjM2J5ZzhsdA==

Thursday Countdown:

One day until Friday! We’re also wrapping up October, which somehow flew by faster than ever. Quick reminder to do the anaesthesia tutorial of the week. Try it in theatre while watching the monitor

https://resources.wfsahq.org/atotw/capnography-in-the-nonintubated-patient/

Friday Academic Day: