16 Questions with Dr. Nena Letete
Dr. Nena Letete, a 2020 MBChB graduate (with distinction) from University of Pretoria, answers interestingly important questions about medical school.
Dr. Nena Letete graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) Cum Laude from University of Pretoria in 2020. He also received the Bongani Mayosi Prize for excellence in leadership in his final year - serving as a beacon of hope to so many people, premedical students included. He currently works as an Internal Medicine Medical Officer - how incredibly awesome, right? We reeled with sheer excitement at this biography too! 😀
He is featured in this newsletter because he relates to the challenges of being a medical student, especially at the University of Pretoria. Dr. Nena writes from experience and sincerely answers important questions many of us may be asking ourselves such as specializing in the medicine, whether medicine is worth it, the need for a supportive community, misconceptions about being a doctor, and time management amidst other interesting things 🕛.
If you read long enough, you will find out that one of the best things to happen to him in medical school is meeting the love of his life who is also a doctor (yes, this had us reeling with another bout of excitement) so keep reading for more. We hope that at the end, you have a renewed hope and are left encouraged to study medicine, regardless of how uneasy it gets. ⚡
1. If you had to describe your medical school experience using only THREE emojis, which ones would you choose?
📚 🫂 🙏🏾 and close runners up are 😂 and 🛌.
2. What was your favorite spot on campus to unwind and take a break OR study and maximize your productivity?
I must be honest; whenever lectures were finished or hospital rotations ended, I would rush to my room to recharge because I preferred the solace of own space. I’ve never been a huge fan of studying in the library or a public place, it never quite clicked for me. To unwind, I’d go anywhere as far as possible from Prinshof campus.
3. What was the best thing to happen to you in medical school?
Narrowing it down to three things in no particular order, it would have to be:
Finding what I believe to be my purpose (helping people by using my gifts – both inside and outside of medicine). 🪴
Deepening my faith. ✝️
Meeting the love of my life. 💘
4. What year of medical school did you enjoy the most and why? 🥼
My favorite 18 months has to be SIC (Student Internship Complex)! I loved putting together everything we had learned for the first few years of medical school and seeing it come to life. I know nobody asked, but the second year has to be the absolute worst year of any degree known to man. What a traumatic time!
5. Rumor has it that self-studying in medical school yields better grades than attending lectures. What are your thoughts on this and what worked for you? 💯
As an aspiring clinician-scientist, I’d say the jury is still out in terms of which method is objectively better or more effective.
On a personal note, I prefer self-study and found that it works better for me. However, it has to be taken on a case-by-case basis and considerations should include: topic, volume of content; the lecturer and personal preference.
Although this question is broad, I think there is a shift in teaching style in the clinical years. In preclinical years, there is very little expectation to apply one’s knowledge. The teaching is mostly didactic and most exams expect you to regurgitate the content.
Whereas in the clinical years, you are expected to apply all of the knowledge you have amassed, and that skill of synthesizing and applying is an integral skill you can only learn in ward rounds, bedside tutorials and informal discussions in a clinical setting. And you have to get out of bed to get all of that.
6. Maintaining good mental health during medical school can be quite challenging. How did you retain your sanity amidst the demanding curriculum and workload? ❤️🩹
I cannot understate the value of finding community, in whatever setting you find yourself in. Family, friends and my faith community helped keep me grounded during medical school.
7. One of the most frustrating things in medical school is studying hard and still obtaining minimal marks. Did you experience this and if you did, what helped? 🆘
I experienced this quite often in the preclinical years (1-4). I think what helped me deal with the emotions that came with it was to try (keyword try: because it is a natural response) and detach my self-worth from my academic performance.
Along with refining my study technique – finding my ideal study time; factoring in rest; and broadening study materials (video/audio), this helped me find a balance between the hours put in and the results.
However, I must stress that medical school marks are not necessarily a reflection of knowledge, or ability to apply said knowledge in the real world. I know that is hard to conceptualize, especially early on, but I always emphasize knowing the basics extremely well is what matters, and unfortunately, that is rarely how we are tested in undergraduate.
Medical school marks are not necessarily a reflection of knowledge, or ability to apply said knowledge in the real world.
Most people leave medical school able to list Budd Chiari as a differential diagnosis for jaundice but not knowing how to interpret iron studies, which is a shame because that will be your bread and butter as a junior clinician.
8. Time management is crucial in medical school. Can you share any productivity hacks or tools you used to stay organized and maximize your study time? ⌛
I wish I could give you this perfectly curated answer on one specific tool that revolutionized my studies, but I think medical school or university as a whole is far too complex for one solution to work across the board. Nevertheless, here is something that may work:
Individualize your approach to your studies – for me that meant; working during the hours I had the most energy (23:00-05:00), and mapping out a clear study plan before a block by speaking to those who had gone before me.
Those who know me know that I would HUNT for resources before any new block/exam, and I would bother anyone willing to hear me out for advice, tips and tricks they would recommend. I have remained the same to this day, gleaning from those who have first-hand experience and the power of hindsight has been extremely valuable.
Gleaning from those who have first-hand experience and the power of hindsight has been extremely valuable.
9. Six years of studying medicine is a long time and you cannot necessarily do it solo. What kind of community would you recommend medical students surround themselves with? 🫂
I definitely wouldn’t advise doing this journey (or any journey) alone. On some days you need to lean on those around you more than others, and because of that you need to cultivate a circle of reliable, kind-hearted and empathetic people - preferably those who don’t always take themselves and life too seriously, because truly, it’s not always that deep and you WILL make it.
10. You were awarded the Bongani Mayosi Prize for excellence in leadership in your final year. Can you speak to the importance of extracurricular activities in medical school and their benefit? 🤸🏽
I think their benefit for me was twofold. On the one hand, it provided me with a chance to use my non-medical gifts/talents to give back to underserved communities, and on the other hand helped me take my mind away from the stressful academic environment.
I was fortunate enough to be heavily involved with a campus-based NGO called TULIP for just over two years, and that was one of my most memorable and fulfilling experiences. If you have the emotional/mental capacity to, I would always advocate joining a cause you may be passionate about – whether medical or non-medical. Not only does it enhance your CV, but importantly equips you with the soft skills you need to be a well-rounded clinician.
11. What are some key lessons you have learned throughout your medical career that you wish someone had told you earlier? 🎒
There is more to life than medicine and your career. Medicine can be both a job and a calling, however, it should not be placed above the intangibles in your life – like your family, relationships, personal well-being, hobbies , passions etc.
There is more to life than medicine and your career.
Unfortunately, in medicine, you are replaceable, at the drop of a hat. Be excellent in what you do daily, but remember that it is not worth the cost of self.
12. You make an interesting delineation between purpose and vocation – is medicine purpose, vocation or both and how do these differ if they do? 🤔
That is a deeply personal question, that everyone needs to search for within themselves. For me, my purpose lies in helping people. One way I achieve that purpose is through my vocation (clinical medicine). But, it’s important to note that this is not the only way I have pursued my purpose. Volunteering in NGOs and getting involved in church life are just a few ways I live purpose.
On some golden days, when the stars align– medicine becomes both purpose and vocation. This will look different for everyone.
13. You graduated with a distinction in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. Would you say the journey to being a doctor has been worth the challenges endured in medical school? 🏆
My academic performance, especially towards the end of medical school, was a product of a combination of hard work, incredible teachers and mentors, ever-present support systems and grace. I was grateful for it all to come together the way it did, and that above all God was glorified through it. I hope it has served and will continue to serve as inspiration for those who come after, that it is possible and that my achievements are surpassed.
One always hopes that the end of a journey will be worth the trials faced. Medical school itself was incredibly grueling, but what I gained from it – community, growth and everything in between was so immensely rewarding. And the access that an MBChB grants you – in terms of social capital, a decent salary makes it that much more rewarding.
Medical school itself was incredibly grueling, but what I gained from it – community, growth and everything in between was so immensely rewarding.
However, the flip side is that practicing medicine in the public sector has its own, unique challenges, that make you wonder whether it was really all worth it, daily. All in all, on a good day it was worth it. On a more taxing day, I’m not too sure and I wonder if there aren’t easier ways to make a similar amount of difference (and maybe a bit more money).
14. Looking back at your medical school experience, what advice would you give to your younger self or to current medical students? 📝
Don’t take yourself, or this career too seriously. Embrace medical school, but don’t let it consume you. 🪶
You will become a doctor, and you will find your niche when the time is right, so for now enjoy every last minute of the journey towards that because the destinations feel never-ending in medicine. One day you’ll go from being focused on finishing medical school, to surviving internship, to surviving registrar time, to becoming a fellow. You might lift your head and realize you’ve been striving for this “thing” for 15-20 years and you forgot to actually live. ⌚
Looking ahead into the future. 😎
You might lift your head and realize you’ve been striving for this “thing” for 15-20 years and you forgot to actually live.
15. How did you decide on your medical specialty, and what factors influenced your choice? 👍🏽
On most days I am quite confident that I see myself becoming a specialist physician and clinical haematologist. And on the rare days, the systematic failures of the South African health system have me feeling down, I see myself becoming a career academic and clinician scientist, and pursuing a life in clinical research in a first-world country.
Involvement in holistic patient care and a curiosity for solving problems led me down the road of internal medicine, and clinical haematology are fascinating sub-disciplines.
Pioneering advanced molecular diagnostics and targeted immunotherapy in underserved settings to treat specific haematological conditions, while doing 5-hour ward rounds and clinics every week sounds like an amazing way to spend the rest of my life!
16. What are some common misconceptions about being a doctor that you'd like to dispel? 🚫
The only specialities that exist are in clinical space /hospital-based fields that you are exposed to in medical school. Pathology, clinical research, telemedicine/digital health, medical advisory, health leadership/management, and consulting are various fields one can choose to go into after community service. 🩺
Becoming a GP is less noble/ambitious than becoming a specialist. Primary care physicians save lives, and one could argue that they are among the most important parts of providing holistic clinical care. 💉
Real doctors are only made at Bara. Please don’t fall into this trap, many like myself have. There is more to life than wearing a badge of suffering and there are easier ways to become a competent clinician. Now don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all bad, many valuable lessons were learned but at what cost? Personally not worth it. My takeaway? Competence isn’t nor does it have to be solely forged in the crucible of suffering. 🏥
Doctors save lives every day. Most of our time is spent in the pursuit of improving our patient’s quality of life (and of course trying to find LP needles and stationery if you aren’t blessed to work in the land of milk, honey and efficient healthcare systems - read Western Cape). 💊
Thank you so much for sharing this Dr Letete, thank you for being such an inspiration🔥🙏🏽
This was eye-opening in so many ways! Thank you for sharing, Dr Nena Letete, and thank you to the Med Echos team for making this possible. Looking forward to reading more of these. It's always heart-warming and reassuring to hear about medicine from those on the other side.