Durban doctor receives prestigious Oxford scholarship!
Everything Wakithi Mabaso touches turns into a success story.
Seeing as we all have had what can only be described as another rollercoaster of a year, we are always in need of a nice feel-good story!
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Wakithi Mabaso's story is that and more.
The former Kearsney College pupil is an aspiring clinician-scientist and is currently completing his second year of medical internship at Pietermaritzburg Hospital.
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Mabaso is incredibly passionate about psychiatry and hopes to ultimately improve mental health care availability in South Africa's most vulnerable communities.
Now Wakithi has received an opportunity that will help him move one step closer to achieving his dreams.
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Doctor Mabaso is the latest recipient of a highly regarded postgraduate scholarship to the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Although he still has to start his community service in January 2022, the scholarship has given him the chance to pursue an MSc in global health science and epidemiology, followed by an MSc in clinical and therapeutic neuroscience.
Oxford's position as a global melting pot of student backgrounds is what excites me most; meeting and learning from people I'd never have had the opportunity to otherwise.
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When you have a look at Mabaso's diverse list of accomplishments, it comes as no surprise that he should be accepted into this prestigious school.
Not only can he speak four languages (English, isiZulu, iXhosa, and Afrikaans), but he is also learning German, he displayed some of his drawings and photographic work showcased during various exhibitions, and in 2019, together with his colleague, Dr Stefan van der Walt, he published the largest study conducted on depression and anxiety in South African medical students.
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He attributes a lot of his life's accomplishments, and his career choice, to his parents and the significant roles they played in his life.
Growing up in a home with two medical parents – father Dr Themba Mabaso and mother Professor Ncoza Dlova – provided additional insight in this chosen field. Their influence triggered my curiosity to understand the inner workings of the human body and its processes. My mother is a leader and trailblazer in her field of dermatology and was the first black African female dean and full professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s medical school, so it has been a privilege to learn from her. My father’s guidance that there will always be someone better than oneself, fostered in me a healthy self-concept and reinforced the values of internal motivation.
A massive congratulations to Dr Wakithi Mabaso and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for this bright man!
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Main image courtesy of IOL