Dr. Jo-Anne Madurai – Anaesthetist – Private Practice

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Dr. Jo-Anne Madurai, who is an anaesthetist in private practice, at Jones, Bhagwan and Partners. For anaesthetists no two days are the same, they work with a variety of surgeons and procedures - from orthopaedic to neonatal to cardiac to neurological cases and more. Dr. Madurai recalls some memorable learning experiences from theatre. She reflects on key milestones in her career and notes that some patients have prevailing gender stereotypes where they expect their anaesthetist to be male. Women bring a different dynamic to patients, particularly empathy; and medicine needs women. As a working mother she emphasises the importance of a support structure and fluid sharing of household responsibilities between partners. She also shares a couple of tips that have helped her achieve balance in life, such as taking up a hobby or hobbies that are not work related, additionally, in the words of Asterix, “mens sana in corpore sano” – a healthy mind in a healthy body, she advocates for exercise. We discuss the impact that women in power have on enabling and uplifting girls and women around them. Girls and women need to equip themselves through education and take every opportunity available to them to grow. When your preparation meets your opportunity that’s where you will have your success. In acknowledgement of the period of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Dr. Madurai encourages women who experience GBV to start speaking up, it’s a step forward to freedom. Tune in for more…