Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving Episode 20 Mindfulness and Resilience in South African Healthcare with Dr. Janine Kirby

Today, we are joined by Dr. Janine Kirby, an integrative medical doctor, homeopath and mindfulness teacher based in East London.After completing her medical degree, she obtained a Diploma in Child Health, a Diploma in Obstetrics and a Masters in Family Medicine. She worked in the public sector for many years before starting her own integrative medical practice and acquiring professional qualifications in Homeopathy. She has a passion for helping her patients understand the importance of the intimate connection between the body, thoughts and emotions in healing.Janine enjoys teaching, having facilitated both under- and post-graduate Family Medicine training. She has been teaching the 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR) with psychologist Barbara Gerber since 2010. She also co-facilitates mindfulness-informed programs for healthcare practitioners dealing with stress and burnout, and is the current Chairperson of IMISA, the Institute for Mindfulness South Africa, involved on national and international levels in promoting mindfulness programs and developing teacher training standards.In the conversation, Dr. Kirby shares the profound impact of her early life experiences and the environment of apartheid South Africa on her journey into medicine and mindfulness.We also cover:How her brother's illness shaped her holistic understanding of healingThe challenges of integrating traditional and modern medical practicesHer work with the Institute for Mindfulness of South Africa (IMISA)Dr. Kirby’s mindfulness programsThe balance between professional challenges and personal fulfillmentShe concludes by sharing her desire to expand mindfulness programs and contribute to the global mindfulness conversation and reflecting on the balance between professional challenges and personal fulfillment.-Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(03:31) Dr. Kirby’s Medical Journey(04:39) Janine's Experiences with Her Brother’s Illness(08:52) Traditional Healing in South Africa(14:19) Challenges in South African Healthcare(22:54) Burnout and Mindfulness in Medicine(26:33) Janine's Personal Journey with Mindfulness(38:17) Future of Mindfulness in South Africa(43:14) ConclusionGuest: Janine Kirby, MBChBFamily Practitioner / Homeopath in private practice; Chairperson of IMISA (Institute of Mindfulness SA)LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-kirby-525b595a/Institute for Mindfulness South Africa website: https://mindfulness.org.za/Facebook Page, Institute for Mindfulness South Africa: https://www.facebook.com/instituteformindfulnesssouthafrica/Resources/References:Kirby JM, Milligan PD, Conradie HH, McIntosh BM. A mindful approach to physician self-care. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2024;66(1):e1-e4. Published 2024 Jan 30. doi:10.4102/safp.v66i1.5836