Why Did I Become A Doctor South Africa
Why Did I Become A Doctor - Real Stories from Professionals Who Chose Their Path
Honest conversations about career, calling, and life choices. Unfiltered journeys of doctors, dentists, nurses, engineers, accountants, and professionals across South Africa and beyond.
In-depth interviews exploring professional pressures, burnout, career pivots, mental health, and the moments that made people question their calling.
What You'll Find:
✨ Raw conversations with diverse professionals
🎯 Resilience, burnout & career change stories
💡 Medicine, dentistry, nursing, engineering, finance & more
🔥 Unexpected journeys (doctors → musicians, engineers → car reviewers!)
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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed by guests on "Why Did I Become A Doctor" are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast, its hosts, or producers. Content shared on this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical or professional advice.
Why Did I Become A Doctor South Africa
Why Did I Become a Vaccinologist? | Daniel Kapelus
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Daniel Kapelus had never heard the word vaccinology before 2019. By 2020, he was rotating through real COVID-19 clinical trials as a master's student at Wits — thrown into one of the most consequential public health moments in living memory.
In this conversation, Daniel breaks down how vaccines actually work, why the COVID vaccines were developed so quickly without cutting corners, what mRNA technology does inside your body, and why you simply cannot copy-paste one country's vaccine schedule onto another. He also reflects on why science communication matters so deeply to him, the gap between evidence and policy, and what he hopes to contribute to public health over his career.
A passionate, humble, and genuinely illuminating listen.
Topics covered:
- Growing up in a legal family and choosing science instead
- Leaving biomedical engineering and discovering genetics
- How he found his way into vaccinology — and started his master's just as COVID arrived
- How clinical trials work, and how COVID vaccine trials were accelerated without sacrificing rigour
- mRNA vaccines explained in plain language
- Vaccine hesitancy, risk perception, and the power of storytelling in science
- The autism-vaccines claim — what two decades of evidence actually shows
- The return on investment of vaccines: 154 million deaths averted over 50 years
- Why different countries have different vaccine schedules
- Career paths in vaccinology — academia, pharma, NGOs, consulting
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo, and finding a meditative outlet amid a demanding PhD
Co-hosted by Dr Yash Naidoo and Dr Yakshen Lindy | Recorded at Bedfordview Dental Care
This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views expressed by guests do not necessarily represent those of the podcast or hosts and do not constitute professional advice. Always consult with qualified professionals for medical, financial, or career decisions.
🎙️ Why Did I Become A Doctor shares honest, unscripted conversations with doctors, dentists, healthcare professionals, and other inspiring individuals who are shaping the future of healthcare and beyond.
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