BY Nkosazana Ngwadla
Studying medicine has always been a childhood dream shared by twins, Dr Boitumelo Molise and Dr Keitumetse Molise.
The Molise twins obtained their Bachelors of Medicine and Bachelors of Surgery from the University of Free State.
“It feels really amazing to be medical doctors with my twin. I feel like it makes things easier for both of us because we can help each other. Studying medicine has always been a childhood dream. I’ve always loved helping people, so I knew that if I studied medicine, I could do that every day of my life,” said Dr Keitumetse Molise.
“My twin and I definitely have different interests. She loves to be in theatre, thus I am sure she’ll go into surgery. I thrive in obstetrics and gynaecology. It was a module that I absolutely loved. I am passionate about female reproductive health and believe there’s plenty to be done in that discipline,” explains Dr Boitumelo Molise.
Although they qualified as medical doctors, the sisters have chosen different areas of specialisation. According to Dr Boitumelo, her twin sister loves to be in theatre where she will perform surgeries, while her area of interest lies in obstetrics and gynaecology. She said this is a module she enjoyed during her studies, adding that she is passionate about female reproductive health and she believes there is a lot to be done in this specific area.
The sisters also shared words of advice with the aspiring medical students and students in general. Dr Keitumetse believes that no one should allow her or his background to determine his or her destiny. “[You] should be determined and know what you want to achieve in life. One thing that motivated us was the support of our parents and siblings; they were our pillars of strength. Another thing that motivated us were the doctors that we were surrounded by. They showed us it was possible,” said Dr Keitumetse
Dr Boitumelo said young people must know and understand that one does not have to be “the smartest person on this planet or come from a wealthy family”. Just work hard and study, then the rest will follow, said Dr Boitumelo. “When you pass well as a matriculant, the bursary opportunities and universities will line up in a row and all you would have to do is choose who to work with,” she added.
Prayer, faith, and family are some of the values that kept us going, added Dr Boitumelo. She said just the thought and knowledge that one day she will be in a position to help others motivated her.
Image: LinkedIn
