Where are you originally from, Darlene?

I am originally from Ghana but grew up in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. After completing high school in East London, I studied at the University of Cape Town and completed my MBChB in 2012.

What is your motivation for studying medicine?

My motivation for studying medicine stems from my love of Biology as a high school student. I have always been interested in how the human body operates. My desire to then pursue Internal Medicine began with my rotation in medicine as an undergraduate student. I was fascinated by the different roles a physician has to undertake in order to come up with the appropriate diagnosis and manage patients accordingly. The different hats we have to wear include detective, team player, communicator, health advocate as well as compassionate and understanding health professional. Additionally, the wide variety of disease spectrums a physician sees means one must apply diagnostic reasoning with clinical and evidence-based medicine in order to make appropriate diagnosis. This in itself continues to challenge me every day as every patient I see is different. I am hopeful that I will be able to further my studies in Nephrology and make a difference there.

What advice would you give to the next generation of medical students?

The advice I would give a junior doctor who is planning to pursue Internal Medicine or anyone considering Medicine is to stay in the moment, and not rush to the finish line. We are continually developing, and it is important to take the time to appreciate and enjoy the stage you are in. The Medicine journey is very tiring but understand that it is a marathon and not a sprint.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

My passions include anything to do with music! I am an amateur guitar and piano player, but you will always find me practicing, trying to improve my skills. So, you’ll either catch me on my piano or guitar in my free time.