Dr. Berzelius joined Project Flamingo in 2022 at Livingstone Hospital while working as a medical officer in anaesthesia. Since then, he has been an integral part of the Flamingo Family at Groote Schuur Hospital as an anaesthetic registrar, bringing optimism, dedication, and a deep passion for patient care.
1. When did you first join Project Flamingo?
I joined Project Flamingo in 2022 at Livingstone Hospital in the Eastern Cape while I was a medical officer in anaesthesia.
2. Is there a particular Flamingo moment or memory that stands out for you?
A moment I will never forget was seeing the interdisciplinary teamwork between the various departments involved in Project Flamingo, during my first Flamingo list. Watching all the members of staff, from porters to cleaners, from nurses to doctors, working together seamlessly to ensure that the patients received the care they needed timeously, is something I will never forget.
3. What in your life do you feel most grateful for?
I feel most grateful that I am able to provide care for others, through the work that I do every day. It is a blessing to be able to help those in need, and something we take for granted and need to be reminded of frequently.
4. When you are not at work, what do you enjoy doing most in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. Watching movies at the cinema is an absolute favourite activity of mine. South Africa is a beautiful country with so much to explore, with hidden gems around almost every corner, so travelling around the country and visiting small towns is also something I enjoy doing.
5. Which personal quality or characteristic would you most want to be known or remembered for?
I would like to be remembered for being optimistic. Choosing to always see the positive in a situation.
6. What advice do you have for young people starting their medical careers?
Everything works out the way that it is meant to. The road is long with many challenges, but keep working on your goals day by day.
7. What's the best advice someone's ever given you? And did you follow it?
The best advice I have ever received was to live life to the fullest because the days turn into years very quickly. I actively try to make the most of my time nowadays because the years truly have zoomed by me.
8. What is the one thing you want your patients to know?
I would like patients to know that as health care professionals, we are always trying to overcome the barriers and challenges that prohibit them from accessing the best medical service.
9. Is there is philosophy you live by?
The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your thoughts. If you think good things, good things will happen.
Thank you Berzelius for your kindness, generosity and positive energy you bring to our Groote Schuur Flamingo Team, and the #FlamingoFamily in general.
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