Why Did I Become A Doctor South Africa

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"I became a doctor. I landed up becoming a scientist — because of an epidemic."

In this episode, we sit down with Professor Glenda Gray — one of the world's leading HIV and vaccine scientists, past President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, Time Magazine Top 100 Most Influential Person, and recipient of the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver.

But before all of that, she was a girl from the wrong side of the railway line in Boksburg, reading a book a day in her pyjamas, selling tomatoes at train stations with her mother, and dreaming of running a paediatric ward at Baragwanath Hospital.

This conversation covers it all — the teacher who threw a test on her desk and said "Not good enough", what it was like watching HIV go from an exotic curiosity to every third child in her ward dying, the moment she put HIV-positive mothers and their babies in her car and drove them to argue with an ethics committee — and won, briefing Anthony Fauci every Sunday during COVID, receiving death threats from anti-vaxxers serious enough to warrant a bodyguard, and why she believes science is not a luxury — it's the most important investment a poor country can make.

This is one of those episodes you don't just listen to. You feel it.

What we cover:
- Growing up poor and white in Boksburg in apartheid South Africa
- Getting into Wits Medical School on a diversity ticket in 1981 — and why she believes in social engineering
- The physics teacher who saw something in her she couldn't yet see in herself
- Being politicised at university and refusing to rotate through wards that excluded Black students
- The arrival of HIV: from exotic disease to epidemic to personal loss
- How necessity turned a paediatrician into one of Africa's most important scientists
- The breastfeeding vs. formula debate that sparked international controversy
- Leading South Africa's COVID research response — and being weeks ahead of the world
- Death threats, bodyguards, and standing firm on the science
- Time Magazine Top 100 and meeting Trevor Noah in New York
- Her current work on HIV vaccines and the HIV-cancer connection
- Red wine, cold water swimming, body boarding, and why community is everything

This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed by g
🎙️ Why Did I Become A Doctor shares honest, unscripted conversations with doctors, dentists, healthcare professionals, and other inspiring individuals who are shaping the future of healthcare and beyond.
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Dr Yaseen Bismilla is one of South Africa's few specialist forensic pathologists - and a TikTok sensation with over 209,000 followers. In this conversation, we explore his journey from a small church town in the North West to becoming the voice for victims who can no longer speak for themselves.

Yaseen takes us through his unexpected path into forensic pathology, starting with a placement at a rape crisis centre during his community service year - "the placement nobody wanted" - that changed everything. We discuss the realities of working in South Africa's mortuaries, the mental health toll of this work, how he ended up creating educational content that's reached millions, and what it means to speak for the dead.

We cover his upbringing in Potchefstroom, the biology teacher who sparked his medical journey, what a typical day in forensic pathology actually looks like, and his master's research on femicides in South Africa. Yaseen opens up about how dark humour helps him cope, being held at gunpoint and spending two weeks in a mental health facility, building a TikTok following that educates millions, the cases that stay with you forever, and why he's actually quite shy and introverted despite his online presence.

This is a raw, honest conversation about choosing a career path that confronts death daily, finding meaning in speaking for those who cannot speak, and the surprising role social media plays in death education and mental health support.

**Recorded:** 24 January 2026

**Disclaimer:** This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily represent those of the podcast or hosts and do not constitute professional advice. Always consult with qualified professionals for medical, financial, or career decisions.
🎙️ Why Did I Become A Doctor shares honest, unscripted conversations with doctors, dentists, healthcare professionals, and other inspiring individuals who are shaping the future of healthcare and beyond.
💬 Enjoyed the episode?
Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps us grow and inspire the next generation.
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🚀 Want to collaborate, support the show, or find out more?
Visit whydidibecomeadoctor.com or email us at [email protected].

Dr Zain Dangor is a maxillofacial and oral surgeon practising in Lenasia and Vereeniging. In this conversation, he shares his journey from aspiring cricketer to surgeon, the challenges of balancing a demanding surgical career with family life, and the profound moments that remind him why he chose this path.
We discuss his training journey from dentistry at Wits to specialising in maxillofacial surgery, the realities of running a private maxillofacial practice, dealing with burnout during COVID, and why the "pamphlet moment" with a patient's daughter changed how he thinks about his work. Zain also opens up about his struggles with self-promotion, his dream of doing humanitarian work with his children, and why collaboration matters more than competition.
Topics Covered:
Growing up in Lenasia and giving up provincial cricket for dentistry
Why he chose maxillofacial surgery over other dental specialties
The application process and training journey at Wits
Running a private practice: the business side of surgery
Patient stories that shaped his approach to care
Work-life balance and managing guilt as a surgeon parent
Burnout, self-reflection, and staying grounded
The value of mentorship and building a supportive team
Why he's uncomfortable with social media despite its benefits
Future goals: humanitarian work and raising compassionate kids
Disclaimer: The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It reflects the personal experiences and opinions of the guests and hosts and should not be considered medical, legal, or professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult qualified professionals for specific guidance related to their individual circumstances.
🎙️ Why Did I Become A Doctor shares honest, unscripted conversations with doctors, dentists, healthcare professionals, and other inspiring individuals who are shaping the future of healthcare and beyond.
💬 Enjoyed the episode?
Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps us grow and inspire the next generation.
🔗 Connect with us:
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• LinkedIn
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🚀 Want to collaborate, support the show, or find out more?
Visit whydidibecomeadoctor.com or email us at [email protected].

In this extraordinary episode, we sit down with the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, for an intimate conversation about his journey from rural Limpopo to leading South Africa's health system.
Minister Motsoaledi shares stories many have never heard before - from experiencing apartheid's racial hierarchies as a young medical student in KZN, to treating wounded activists underground during the Struggle, to his time in detention. He opens up about the transition from clinical medicine to politics, and the weight of responsibility that comes with leading healthcare in a country facing immense challenges.
This isn't a typical political interview. We go deep into the realities of implementing National Health Insurance, the doctor brain drain crisis plaguing our country, and what government is actually doing to keep medical professionals in South Africa. Minister Motsoaledi speaks with remarkable honesty about the mental health epidemic among healthcare workers, the complexities of rural healthcare delivery, and his vision for strengthening health systems that serve all South Africans.
We discuss the dangerous work of treating activists in hiding during apartheid, the personal costs of political activism, and what it takes to balance idealism with pragmatism when reforming a broken system. He also offers candid, practical advice for young doctors trying to navigate their careers in uncertain times.
This is more than a policy discussion - it's a deeply human conversation about service, sacrifice, historical memory, and the future of healthcare in our country. Minister Motsoaledi doesn't avoid the difficult questions, and his answers reveal both the possibilities and the limitations of what political leadership can achieve in transforming healthcare.
Whether you're a healthcare professional, a student considering medicine, or simply someone who cares about the future of South Africa's health system, this conversation offers rare insight into the mind of one of our country's most experienced health leaders.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and hosts and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organisation, institution, or employer. This content is for informational and educational purposes only.
🎙️ Why Did I Become A Doctor shares honest, unscripted conversations with doctors, dentists, healthcare professionals, and other inspiring individuals who are shaping the future of healthcare and beyond.
💬 Enjoyed the episode?
Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps us grow and inspire the next generation.
🔗 Connect with us:
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• Twitter (X)
• LinkedIn
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🚀 Want to collaborate, support the show, or find out more?
Visit whydidibecomeadoctor.com or email us at [email protected].

What drives someone to leave medicine for law, only to return to medicine years later?
In this episode, we sit down with Dr Tsametse Mohlamonyane, a medical doctor who became a fully practising lawyer before returning to clinical medicine. His story challenges everything we think we know about career paths in healthcare.
Dr Mohlamonyane takes us from his childhood in rural Limpopo during the 1986 state of emergency, through his medical training, to his unexpected pivot into law as a chief investigator at the HPCSA. We explore his time doing articles at Norton Rose Fulbright, his work in medical negligence litigation, and the moment he decided to return to patient care.
Along the way, we discuss the realities of being a doctor-lawyer, the unique perspective this dual qualification brings to healthcare, and what his 10-year-old daughter thinks about following in his footsteps. There's even a heartwarming Rick Ross story behind why she calls him "Say What" instead of "Dad."
KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Growing up in Limpopo during political turmoil
The path from rural village life to medical school
Transitioning from doctor to HPCSA investigator
Doing legal articles at a major law firm
Medical negligence litigation from both sides
Why he returned to clinical medicine
Balancing multiple professional identities
Advice for aspiring doctor-lawyers
ABOUT DR TSAMETSE MOHLAMONYANE: Dr Mohlamonyane is a medical doctor (MBChB) and admitted attorney with an LLB degree. He has worked as a chief investigator at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), completed his articles at Norton Rose Fulbright, and practised in medical negligence law before returning to clinical medicine.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the hosts or producers. This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, or professional advice. Always seek the guidance of qualified professionals for specific concerns.
Subscribe to "Why Did I Become a Doctor South Africa" for authentic conversations with healthcare professionals across South Africa. New episodes every two weeks.
🎙️ Why Did I Become A Doctor shares honest, unscripted conversations with doctors, dentists, healthcare professionals, and other inspiring individuals who are shaping the future of healthcare and beyond.
💬 Enjoyed the episode?
Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps us grow and inspire the next generation.
🔗 Connect with us:
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter (X)
• LinkedIn
• WhatsApp Channel
🚀 Want to collaborate, support the show, or find out more?
Visit whydidibecomeadoctor.com or email us at [email protected].