UKZN final-year Medical student Ms Onazo Daniso is happy to be home after winning an Erasmus Clinical Rotation Mobility Scholarship which saw her spend nine weeks at the Medical University of Graz (Med Unigraz), a public research institution in Austria.
A University of the Free State qualified nurse, Daniso completed her Nursing community service at Universitas Academic Hospital in 2018, going on to register at UKZN as a Medical student the following year. During her time at the University she served as a Library Assistant and a member of the Medical School’s Student Representative Council.
She won the Best 4th-Year Student award in 2022 for embodying the University’s REACHt (Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Client Orientation, Honesty and Trust) values, and is today the final-year female class representative and chairperson of the MBChB final-year committee.
Daniso said she was a proud campaign manager for the Medical School’s #IMadeaDoctor campaign and a Golden Key Honour Society Member.
‘Going abroad on an electives programme was something I’ve always wanted to do but I just could not find a programme that aligned well with my academic schedule. The minute I saw the Erasmus Clinical Rotation Mobility Scholarship advert, I knew there and then that it would provide me with an opportunity to fulfil my dream.’
Daniso spent two weeks of her rotation at Med Unigraz gaining vast clinical skills and clinical procedure insight in the Department of Ophthalmology, an additional two weeks in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, and the final five weeks at the Department of General Surgery and Visceral Transplant. ‘I spent most of my time rotating in theatre and acquired skills which I think will contribute immensely to my medical career,’ she said.
Said Daniso: ‘The people were welcoming and accommodating. What I found really challenging was the language barrier as most people communicate in German meaning that Med Unigraz medium of tuition is German, patients and hospital staff communicate mainly in German, and patients’ files are in German. Nonetheless, doctors that I worked with were kind enough to translate and attend to my needs.’
She said before going to Graz she used to get questions from the general public and doctors as to what she wanted to specialise in. ‘I’ve always been confused between the two totally different fields of cardiology – the branch of medicine that concerns diseases and disorders of the heart, and orthopaedics – the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. ‘After two weeks of orthopaedics clinical exposure in Graz and a week’s exposure immediately after my return to South Africa, it hit me that my love for orthopaedics has grown and I am more interested in advancing my skills in that field, in addition to becoming a businesswoman.’
Daniso said being alone in Austria, especially over the Christmas and New Year period, made her reflect on her life and how far she had come. ‘I got to understand who I really am outside of my comfort zone and learn more about my strengths and weaknesses. And as lonely as it was sometimes, going to Austria contributed a lot to my personal growth.’
She encouraged other Medical students to keep striving for excellence. ‘Medicine is one of those degrees which requires a certain level of discipline… I’ve learnt to dig deep within, and constantly remind myself of my “why” whenever I feel demotivated or encounter difficulty.’
Daniso enjoys listening to music, reading, gardening and working out.
