The interviewer and the interviewee

In 2003 I started working as a family physician Worcester, a rural town in the Western Cape, South Africa. The Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health at Stellenbosch University initiated a bursary scheme with the local department of health for local scholars interested in studying medicine but whose parents could not afford university fees. School principals identified talented learners who showed interest in a career in medicine. Towards the end of 2004 my colleague Lindsay Meyer from Ukwanda and myself interviewed a scholar, Marlin Abrams, at the Bree River secondary school in Worcester. Marlin was successful in his application for the bursary and started studying medicine in 2005 at Stellenbosch University.

17 years later, I am already retired but still involved in medical education. Early in January I get an unexpected call from the CEO of Worcester hospital appealing for help as the hospital was struggling to cope with the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A few doctors were on sick leave. It was not a difficult decision for me to agree to work for one week at the hospital. However, even though it was only for one week, I had to go through the whole process of being formally appointed. This included being interviewed by a selection panel. This was arranged telephonically and I was informed that the chairman of the panel will be a certain Dr Abrams! Marlin qualified in 2010 and after completing his internship and compulsory community service year, specialised in emergency medicine. On graduating he was appointed as an emergency medicine specialist at Worcester hospital, returning to his hometown to make his expertise available to the hospital and his community. The roles now being reversed, it was such a pleasure being interviewed by Marlin for my temporary post and a privilege to work closely with him during the week I spent at the hospital.