Lindiwe Sidali becomes SA’s 1st African female cardiothoracic surgeon
- Dr Lindiwe Sidali, 35, has become South Africa's first African female cardiothoracic surgeon
- She has been a doctor for a decade now and has termed the experience as "enlightening"
- She credited her parents for urging her to pursue her dreams
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A 35-year-old doctor from the Eastern Cape has become South Africa's first African female cardiothoracic surgeon.
Dr Lindiwe Sidali has already been a doctor for 10 years, Daily News reports.
She recently completed her Fellowship of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.
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Sidali termed her medical journey as both enlightening and challenging. For instance, her field is mostly male-dominated. She has had to adjust and to represent the previously disadvantaged.
However, the young surgeon also described her experience as an adventure. She especially credited her parents for urging her to pursue her dreams.
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Despite her inspiring success, Sidali considers herself a "small town girl." Her parents moved from the Eastern Cape to the North West to work in the mining industry, Briefly.co.za learned.
She won a scholarship from the North West Department of Health to study medicine in Cuba. Her interest in medicine was sparked when she volunteered at Wonderkop clinic.
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Sidali said the opportunity to serve people keeps her motivated. Speaking to kznhealth.gov.za, she urged youths, especially young girls, to pursue education:
That is how you truly liberate a person. But education needs money, which is why education has to be free for those who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Source: Briefly News