BORN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Dr Penelope Chiwaridzo Dhliwayo is the supervisor of Melomed Trauma and Emergency Services in Richards Bay.
Affectionately known as Dr Penny, she and her family moved to Richards Bay from Cape Town in December, 2018.
‘My husband and I have just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary and have been blessed with two little ones,’ she says when asked to describe her family life.
She has been part of the Melomed Group for the past five years.
After matriculating from Parklands High School in Alberton with distinction, she went to medical school and graduated with honours at the University of Cape Town.
‘After medical school I also studied Business Management, Emergency Medicine and Trauma Management courses at UCT.’
After six years at the UCT Medical School, Dr Penny worked two years as an intern doctor at Groote Schuur Tertiary Hospital in Cape Town.
She spent a year in the Free State as a community service doctor before returning to Cape Town where she did locum work and took on as many emergency unit shifts as she could at various hospitals across Cape Town.
‘After about 18 months, I finally got a lifechanging offer to work at Melomed Trauma and Emergency Services.’
Moving to Zululand has been a wonderful experience for my family. I finally feel like I have found the perfect place to settle down and develop.
Dr Penny says she loves making a difference. ‘When someone is injured or having a medical emergency, is in pain, shocked and traumatised - even a matter of life and death
- I know I can do something to assist and try make a difference when it really matters the most. That’s what I love about emergency healthcare.
‘I believe I was born to make a difference in this way. I don’t see myself doing anything else!’
To visitors at Melomed Richards Bay’s Emergency Unit, Dr Penny says, ‘It is our goal to ensure that all patients are attended to timeously, fully assessed and treated by a competent and compassionate team of nurses and doctors.
‘We are well supported by an excellent team of specialist doctors and we are all ready and honoured to serve.’