Dr Mfundisi is a neurosurgeon who describes herself as a full-time mother and a neurosurgeon part time. She grew up eNgcobo in Eastern Cape (the Transkei). Dr Mfundisi went to school in the same village where she had to walk quite a distance to get to school. Then went to a boarding school in Mthata, then eventually to university in Cape Town. 

1. How old were you when you decided to pursue your current career path and what inspired you?

To become a doctor, I decided when I was probably seven or eight, I think. What inspired me is that I could count to 100. And an aunt who was always very supportive and encouraging while we were busy stamping mielies in Engcobo she literally planted the idea in my head about being a doctor. She said “Oh, because you can count to 100, then you can be a doctor”. Then I was like “oh Well, I guess, I guess I'll be a doctor then”, you know. And then of course, I think that I actually then stuck with that idea all the way through high school. And then at the end of high school, I was a little confused about what I wanted to do. 

So actually, my first year at University of Cape Town (UCT) I was doing engineering. Then during the first year of engineering I realised and said, “no, I don't like this thing”. And then I went on to medical school and I liked it.  

With the neurosurgery that came when I was already in varsity. I think around, third or fourth year. I loved neuroanatomy in general and just neurosciences and just always had love for things that are difficult. And I had struggled in second year with just neurophysiology when we were doing our physiology program. Then I really liked neuro. I liked psychiatry as well. And I liked neurology and neurosurgery.

What makes them exciting is that it’s almost like you are playing a puzzle, trying to figure out what's wrong with the patient without even looking at the scan. And, you know, because of that and of course, I said having a good understanding of it and a good appreciation of the whole thing (neurosciences).

Then I realized that I didn't think I was a very patient person to be doing medical disciplines. So, neurology was out for me. And then psychiatry was not as exciting for me, then opted for the surgical disciplines because I liked to fix things quickly. 

I think that it was sold completely to me when I met Dr Sichizya. A registrar who almost took on a mentorship role for us as undergrads, and generally, as black undergrads at UCT. He then took me to the theatre for a patient I had seen before and then saw the patient after the meningioma removal. The improvement was so quick and that’s when I was like “This is the thing I want to do”. 

2. Did you ever get help with career guidance? Any mentor(s) & what role did they play?

Not really. The only career guidance I got was that time I counted to 100 and that was it. Beyond that, I pretty much moved with the tide and would be drawn to some things and not others. 

Mentorship is what cemented my interest in neurosurgery. And this is through Dr Sichizya. Beyond that, of course, very encouraging vocal supporters of myself and what I want to do with my career was great. I got a lot of support from people who were already specializing at UCT. Interestingly, many of them were not doing neurosurgery. Dr Mawande Mandaba was one of those that comes to mind and he was very useful in guiding the career and all of that. 

And of course, the late Professor Bongani Mayosi, playing that role of whatever mentoring that he could do, despite his very busy schedule. Assisting me to get into the program and just encouraging me to get into the program of neurosurgery. Even as I was in neurosurgery, the check ins. After I completed also attempting to guide my career in terms of what I should do next and all of that. So, I did get some mentoring. 

I also met some seniors in neurosurgery who were also almost like my cheerleaders, very positive and very excited about my presence in the space. I guess that maybe it was exciting as I was upsetting a space of men. I was there as the only woman. 

3. What challenges did you face (or are facing) / had to overcome in your journey?

The challenges that I faced and I'm still facing are not very different from challenges that any other South African faces. Any South African trying to do something for themselves, any South African who looks like me. And I mean, this is the story of our lives and have lived life like this. Nothing is new. It is, of course, not pleasant when you are being ruled out, not purely because of your abilities, but because of who you are. That hurts, you know. But with the right support, one can usually manoeuvre their way through. 

But also, now, the kind of support that you get is not just local support but you also get support from elsewhere outside, you know, your usual areas where you get support from. 

And of course, just, growing in a demanding career. It can actually be physically exhausting. So, I think that’s the greatest challenge I face. I'm tired. I'm tired most of the time, but I'm tired having done something very, very interesting and exciting for somebody and for myself. So, I think indeed, the greatest challenge is exhaustion.

4. What has been your biggest driver/motivator?

Seeing the difference I make. Seeing the difference I make in doing what I do for my patients. Also by doing and living my life and seeing how others are inspired and actually spurred on to pursue something greater for themselves. That is exciting. 

Whenever I find that someone who sees themselves in me and they feel that they are more encouraged to do what they want to do. I must say, that is very nice.

And of course, in the line of that hard line of my career which is neurosurgery making a difference in people's lives. It is everything.

5. What advice or key learning points from your journey would you like people to take on to theirs?

To persevere and to never give up. Continue to work hard, know that some things are going to be difficult, but also know that there's a lot of support around you. But also to learn to silence negativity and negative voices because unfortunately, the negative voices are there (I always say to my mentees). The negative voices are loud, they impose themselves, they are everywhere they jump up at you because you're also looking for them subconsciously. 

Because you also maybe don't believe and sometimes maybe you'll believe what they believe and therefore you then somewhat silence the positive voices. But the positive voices are also there. There are actually many and there are many more people who actually wish you well than people who do not. And I think that any youngster, anybody who wishes to do something for themselves, just know that there are a lot of people who are supporting you.

Don't ever give up. 

Also Assess the situation and see if it is worth tackling. But when you are in it just push hard. Many times, you find that you are actually doing well. If you have someone else assessing from the outside, they might just say you’re actually doing great. When you, on the other hand, are feeling discouraged and it doesn't look like you can achieve what you set out to achieve. 

So yeah persevere, persist. And, just keep your eye on the ones who wish you well.

6. Any advice for a young person from a rural area / township who currently has no clue where to even start when choosing a career path?

Speak to people. I think there are many negative sides to things like social media and such. But we have to come out of our comfort zones and just to digress. I did not like the whole idea of attention that I'm going to get on social media especially because of what I do. I really didn't like that. And I didn't want to be sharing a lot of what I do. But a lot of people kept encouraging me to do it because they said there are other people who were looking, who are actually possibly being positively inspired and positively impacted by whatever you do. 

So then, getting in on social media and exposing myself and what I do I realized that my presence in that space has assisted many others who are now beginning to see possibilities for themselves. 

So, for the youngsters to know that our stories are now public, look out for those stories and read about what we do. And of course, at times you are able to contact us, privately, if you are shy to contact us on the TL and just share ideas and share what you wish to do. I may not necessarily always answer all the time. I mean, as times with the one line, because I feel that at times one line is enough, but the information is out there. 

But also, most importantly, do not ever doubt yourself. Your current situations and current placement says nothing about your talent and your possibilities. And we are working towards making sure that this placement is also not as harsh as it is currently. But also, we are there to support you should you wish to step out of those areas, but don't ever doubt where you are just purely because of what circumstances you find yourself in right now. Those circumstances do change, they change for us.  Here I am a girl who grew up in the rural areas and learnt to count picking up corn on the ground while my aunt is busy stamping mielies and here I am, in a nice and a very enjoyable career.