South Africa’s youngest black female cardiologist Dr Viwe Mtwesi says young people need to follow what they are good at as opposed to what they desire most.
At only 32 years old, Dr Viwe Mtwesi has become the youngest black female cardiologist in the country and an entrepreneur who is determined to make a mark in her field.
Mtwesi, who currently works as a cardiology fellow at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Joburg, has already made a name for herself. She was chosen as part of the medical team that treated Nelson Mandela during his last days.
This saw her and other medics honoured by President Jacob Zuma with a Mandela Medallion Gold Medal. Two years ago Zuma awarded medals to people who looked after Mandela when he was ill and all the soldiers who worked during the period leading to his memorial service in 2013.
She says the journey has not been easy and it required many years of studying. She says capitalising on what one is good at is what will propel others to reach her level of success.
Mtwesi says she grew up in a household where she was taught to believe in herself and that is how she has come so far.
“To be a cardiologist you have to be a specialist physician which involved four years of studying. After my undergrad I had to do a two year internship, one year of community service and later began training to become a specialist physician for four years, then three years of cardiologist.”
To be a be a cardiologist, you are required to study for seven more years explains Mtwesi who matriculated at 17.
Mtwesi doesn’t follow her heart’s desires but rather follows what she is good at. She says she wanted to become an engineer but mathematics was never her strongest trait so she capitalised on her strengths and what she excelled at.
“I had to be around people who believed in me. I believed first then surrounded myself with people who really believed in me.”
Mtwesi says her family has been so supportive of her even accompanying and waiting for her outside her exam room when she was still studying.
Listen to the inspirational interview below:
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