For Boitumelo Tenda Nkuatsana, completing medical school at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is about more than earning a medical degree. It is about using education, leadership and lived experience to influence the future of healthcare in South Africa.
A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South African Medical Association Students (SAMA Students) and class representative of the MBChB Class of 2026, Nkuatsana describes her journey through medical school as “an eventful journey” that has shaped her into a purposeful and adaptable future doctor. “Not only a pioneer, but a change maker,” is how she characterises the role she is striving to fulfil.
Her journey has required perseverance. While navigating chronic medical and mental health challenges alongside the demands of medical training, Nkuatsana has remained committed to becoming a productive member of the healthcare profession. “Living with chronic medical and mental health issues whilst trying my absolute best to be a productive member of the medical field has been quite the challenge, one which I have managed to persevere through,” she says.
Beyond clinical training, Nkuatsana has deliberately expanded her knowledge of corporate affairs, financial literacy, networking and entrepreneurship. Her involvement with SAMA and the South African Health Business Academy (SAHBA) has exposed her to aspects of healthcare that extend beyond the lecture hall and hospital ward.
She believes this broader understanding is essential for future doctors navigating an increasingly complex healthcare environment. “Intentionality and stewardship are elementary to the type of leader and upcoming doctor that I am,” she says. “We ought to be educated, not just book-wise, but also through seeking opportunity and endeavouring into the multiple facets that the health sector has for us.”
Advocacy remains central to Nkuatsana’s leadership philosophy. She advocates for students while also championing patient-centred care, health education and health promotion, particularly within primary healthcare.
For her, effective healthcare begins with understanding people. “Medicine is in the wards, they say, but knowing and understanding your patient demographic is key,” she says, emphasising the importance of compassion and preserving the dignity of patients in vulnerable circumstances.
Mental health is another area close to her heart. Drawing on her own experience, Nkuatsana believes healthcare institutions and professional spaces must respond more compassionately to students and professionals experiencing mental health challenges.
She also wants to see greater financial and business literacy among doctors, arguing that future healthcare professionals need exposure to entrepreneurship, networking and alternative opportunities within the health sector.
Mentorship is equally important. Nkuatsana has supported younger students, some of whom have progressed into medical training, while others continue working towards entering the profession. “I am a product of good mentorship, exposure to opportunity and open doors. That is what I want to do for others,” she says.
Reflecting on her time at SMU, Nkuatsana credits the university with strengthening her potential, principles and confidence as she prepares to enter the profession. “Where you get to in life is not the function of where you begin, but the function of how hard you are willing to work to get to where you want to be,” she says.
As she looks towards her future in medicine, leadership and healthcare advocacy, Nkuatsana remains committed to raising both the SMU and South African flags high.
By Tumelo Moila
