We love to hear from our Alumni and were delighted to hear from Ananja van Der Westhuizen and share the wonderful story of her journey into medicine. The DCF team are proud of you and all your achievements.
“Mary Oliver’s famous poem “The Summer Day” has a verse that I love to re-read often:
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
I was fortunate to grow up in the beautiful town of Stellenbosch where I spent my formative years attending Rhenish Girls’ High. Here I learnt about a sense of community, no matter our background, and how acceptance has nothing to do with fulfilling a set of criteria, but rather about being content with who you are and what you believe in.
Following in my sister’s footsteps, I pursued medicine at Stellenbosch University. Initially drawn to the science, I soon became captivated by the humanity behind each illness. Witnessing sickness and death isn’t glamorous, but the raw emotions of trust, regret, belief, and hope resonated deeply: it is a humbling reminder of our shared human experience. I have been given the opportunity to meet people who have had very different life trajectories to my own, without the same privileges as what I had, and then to share in what are times of great joy or great sadness. Being a doctor means having the privilege to be trusted by people during their most vulnerable times, and working to earn that privilege through the way you share that connection.
During my studies, I encountered the devastating impact of HIV and Tuberculosis on people who are often already facing many difficulties, like food insecurity or precarious employment. These illnesses were prevalent across all specialties, igniting a passion within me to contribute to the fight against TB, a preventable and curable disease. Since my medical school years, I joined TB Proof, a non-profit organization dedicated to tackling this public health crisis.
After graduating with Cum Laude, I exchanged the comforts of the Western Cape for the wild coast as I moved to the Eastern Cape to start my internship. Here, I learned from dedicated doctors who expertly navigated limited resources. Enjoying East London immensely, I stayed on for community service at one of the local community health centres. This experience exposed the harsh reality of inadequately resourced primary care. I saw how, even though treatment is provided free at the point of care, someone’s ability to afford the transport to the clinic often meant they arrived too late for effective treatment. Again, the effects of HIV and TB was devastating to see, and to better serve these patients, I completed a Diploma in HIV Management during this year. The three years in the Eastern Cape were rewarding, but extremely tough. I needed a break to reflect on my experiences.
Returning to the Western Cape, I explored the private sector and worked as a General Practitioner alongside Orthopaedic Spinal surgeons. Here the focus was on cutting-edge surgical techniques and pain management strategies. Witnessing the difference in health resources and incentives was eye-opening, but solidified my desire to focus on TB as a major public health concern and leading cause of death in South Africa.
Reconnecting with my inspiring undergraduate research mentors, Prof Grant Theron (Stellenbosch University) and Dr Ruvandhi Nathavitharana (Harvard University), I embarked on an MSc in Molecular Biology, specifically focusing on new diagnostic tools that can help us diagnose TB faster.
I believe I am exactly where I need to be for this stage of my career. My current course offers the chance to develop skills as a clinician-researcher so that I can be part of creating the solutions that my patients with TB needed. I also believe that we can end the deadliest disease in the history of mankind, during my lifetime. It will take persistent advocacy, science and people from all walks of life thinking, talking and problem-solving to respond to the crises that TB causes.
I am eternally grateful to the Doris Crossley Foundation, who saw my potential and empowered me to pursue the plan I have for my “one wild and precious life”.”
Ananja van der Westhuizen