Sameerah Mahomed

As a specialist anaesthesiologist at CMJAH, my role has expanded to encompass the various tenets that define what a specialist is.

As a clinician, I am responsible for :

• the supervison of the delivery of safe and optimal anaesthesia care during daytime as well as after hours for a diverse patient population, including pediatric, geriatric, and special needs patients
• providing emergency care in high-pressure situations, demonstrating the ability to remain calm and focused under challenging circumstances.
• managing caseloads effectively, balancing quality care with high patient volume demands.
• managing the CMJAH Anaesthetic Pre-operative Clinic in terms of patient referral, booking, evaluation and case record management and communication.

As a collaborator, I am a member of multidisciplinary teams that aim to optimise and develop individualised anesthetic plans for patients to improve perioperative outcomes. These disciplines include Vascular surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive surgery, Orthopaedic surgery and other disciplines on request. Further, participating in interdisciplinary rounds discussing patient cases enhances teamwork among colleagues.

As a leader/manager, I am responsible for managing the human resources of our department on a daily basis. This in itself is a full time job ensuring fair and transparent allocations, while striving to maintain and improve our service delivery targets. This requires appropriate and varied allocations to ensure maximum exposure across the spectrum for staff at all levels to maximise learning and building of knowledge and skill competencies, while keeping the mental load of these allocations in consideration.

I have been an active member of the Wits Anaesthesis Wellness Commitee since 2018, of which I am currently the chairperson. I am a keen advocate for employee mental health and wellness. For staff to give of their best, they need to be in a state of well-being. If adjustments to their daily duties are required I am in an appropriate position to facilitate these, as well as communicate with the relevant parties as needed. In this regard, I have had the privilege of being the Registrar Ombudsman from 2018-2020.

I have recently completed the Mediation in Motion Course for medical mediation, and I feel the lessons learnt there are invaluable.

As a scholar, I am interested in meaningful research that contributes to day-to-day improvement in our practice. I supervise MMeds that usually have a quality improvement and/or educational aspect to them, and am currently supervising four MMed students who are at varying stages of completion.

As a teacher, I am the lead for Vascular surgery at CMJAH as I manage the clinical portfolio as well as the academic curriculum for vascular anaesthesia. We conduct interdisciplinary, as well as one-on-one teaching ward rounds for the registrars doing their vascular rotation. This is an important quality-control opportunity as it is at this point that registrars progress from being junior to senior.

I teach all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate students and regularly participate in FCA I updates and refreshers, DA Refresher courses, and was responsible for the organisation and running of the CMJAH DA Refresher course from 2018-2020 until it was taken over by Wits Anaesthesia.

As a professional, I value integrity, open communication, and teamwork. Attention to detail, critical and "out of the box" thinking, problem solving and leading with empathy and high emotional intelligence are skills crucial to the role.

• Performed thorough pre-operative assessments with meticulous attention to detail, reducing surgical complications for a better recovery trajectory.
• Improved patient care by efficiently managing medical records and maintaining accurate documentation and follow up.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills when faced with complex medical issues which required creative approaches or unorthodox interventions.
• Stayed up-to-date by regularly reading relevant journals and engaging in peer discussions about best practices.
• Fostered strong relationships with patients, resulting in increased trust and adherence.
• Delivered compassionate care during end-of-life discussions, providing comfort to patients and their families during difficult times.
• Managed challenging cases effectively by collaborating closely with colleagues and utilising available resources for additional guidance when needed.
• Developed a reputation as being reliable and knowledgeable amongst peers and seniors.
• Contributed to ongoing professional development by attending relevant conferences, seminars, and workshops.
• Completed MMed Research project entitled "The Learning Styles and Study Strategies of Anaesthetists in a Part I Training Programme" which subsequently contributed to a change in the way the Part I examine was structured.

• Steep learning curve as first foray into anaesthesia.
• Improvement and development of knowledge and skills competencies related to anaesthesia
• Reviewed complex cases alongside senior colleagues during peer consultations to develop consensus on appropriate courses of action for challenging scenarios.
• Diploma in Anaesthesia

• Well-supported in ICU environment that focused on teaching and training junior clinicians.
• Development and improvement of critical care-related knowledge and procedural competencies.
• Reviewed complex cases alongside colleagues during peer consultations to develop consensus on appropriate courses of action for challenging scenarios.
• Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based ICU practices and protocols.
• Participated in the teaching programme including case presentations and journal club.
• Served as an approachable resource for patients'' families, addressing concerns and providing information on medical conditions and treatments.

• Managed a diverse caseload, addressing varied healthcare needs within the community setting.
• Ensured compliance with all relevant regulations governing the practice of medicine in a community setting.
• Maintained up-to-date medical knowledge through continuous professional development activities and training sessions.
• Completed the year with exposure mainly in obstetrics and gynaecology, with a special interest in antenatal care.

• Streamlined communication between healthcare providers by acting as a liaison between physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other team members involved in patient care.
• Ensured accuracy of patient records by diligently updating their information after every consultation or procedure.
• Performed minor surgical procedures under direct supervision of attending physicians, honing technical skills necessary for future practice success.
• Participated in grand rounds, presenting complex cases to colleagues and engaging in constructive discussions for optimal patient outcomes.