From Paediatrician to Scientist: How an Epidemic Changed Everything | Prof. Glenda Gray

This episode is brought to you in partnership with MedicalBrief. Stay informed with trusted reporting, expert insights, and analysis that matters to healthcare professionals. From breaking news to in-depth features, MedicalBrief keeps you up to date with everything happening in healthcare. Subscribe free at https://bit.ly/3Pei7o1.---"I became a doctor. I landed up becoming a scientist — because of an epidemic."In this episode, we sit down with Professor Glenda Gray — one of the world's leading HIV and vaccine scientists, past President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, Time Magazine Top 100 Most Influential Person, and recipient of the Order of Mapungubwe in Silver.But before all of that, she was a girl from the wrong side of the railway line in Boksburg, reading a book a day in her pyjamas, selling tomatoes at train stations with her mother, and dreaming of running a paediatric ward at Baragwanath Hospital.This conversation covers it all — the teacher who threw a test on her desk and said "Not good enough", what it was like watching HIV go from an exotic curiosity to every third child in her ward dying, the moment she put HIV-positive mothers and their babies in her car and drove them to argue with an ethics committee — and won, briefing Anthony Fauci every Sunday during COVID, receiving death threats from anti-vaxxers serious enough to warrant a bodyguard, and why she believes science is not a luxury — it's the most important investment a poor country can make.This is one of those episodes you don't just listen to. You feel it.What we cover:- Growing up poor and white in Boksburg in apartheid South Africa- Getting into Wits Medical School on a diversity ticket in 1981 — and why she believes in social engineering- The physics teacher who saw something in her she couldn't yet see in herself- Being politicised at university and refusing to rotate through wards that excluded Black students- The arrival of HIV: from exotic disease to epidemic to personal loss- How necessity turned a paediatrician into one of Africa's most important scientists- The breastfeeding vs. formula debate that sparked international controversy- Leading South Africa's COVID research response — and being weeks ahead of the world- Death threats, bodyguards, and standing firm on the science- Time Magazine Top 100 and meeting Trevor Noah in New York- Her current work on HIV vaccines and the HIV-cancer connection- Red wine, cold water swimming, body boarding, and why community is everythingThis 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.💬 Enjoyed the episode?Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps us grow and inspire the next generation.🔗 Connect with us:• YouTube• Instagram• Facebook• Twitter (X)• LinkedIn• WhatsApp Channel🚀 Want to collaborate, support the show, or find out more?Visit whydidibecomeadoctor.com or email us at [email protected].