As a qualified gastroenterologist, Dr Desiree Moodley has dedicated her career to advancing the understanding and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. She is one of South Africa’s few women leaders in this medical field, which requires both precision and compassion.
She spent most of her life raised by a single parent. Her mother, Veronica worked a full-time job and studied part-time. Seeing her mother struggling during these formative years and showcasing tenacity throughout is what inspired Moodley to strive for greatness.
“My mom worked as an accountant, I would be at the office with her, reading under a table. Often we’d go to evening lectures, we didn’t have a car so that meant we would have to catch a bus or taxi. She would carry me home from lectures,” Moodley reflects.
One of the proudest moments of her life, Moodley says, “was watching my mother graduate with a degree at the age of 50 and that for me, is the picture of true perseverance and resilience”.
Fascinated by the human body
Early on in life, Moodley excelled academically. She teasingly adds, “You know that Indian stereotype of you’re going to be a doctor, lawyer or an accountant”.
Despite loving arts, culture and writing she discovered her fascination with the body. “The physiology, the anatomy, especially how intricate we as humans are and how everything just fits together was fascinating to me,” she explains.
After completing her matric at Greenside High School in Greenside in 2005, Moodley started her medical journey at the University of Witwatersrand, completing the six-year bachelor of medicine and surgery (MBChB) programme. Reflecting on her training she says, “You become very shielded from what rural medicine is like when you’re studying at a med school.”
She moved to Cape Town for her internship where she focused on orthopaedics, anaesthesiology, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics and internal medicine from 2012 to 2013. After that, she headed to Kimberley in the Northern Cape for community service, where she gained valuable experience in rural medicine.
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Challenges in rural healthcare
“In Kimberley, I learned how to maximise what you have available, it’s a balance between patient care and resourcefulness,” she adds.
During this time she visited rural clinics, including those in Hopetown and Platfontein, home to the San tribe, where she faced cultural and linguistic challenges.
“It was a complete step out of my comfort zone, but it taught me the importance of understanding unique circumstances.”
Returning to Cape Town in 2015, she worked across district hospitals before specialising in internal medicine at Tygerberg Hospital for over four years. Like countless others worldwide, Moodley faced extraordinary challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, both personally and professionally as she navigated the most difficult periods of her medical career.
Reflecting on her experience, she recounted how the pandemic “intensified the already demanding nature of medical training”, particularly as she worked in the Covid ICU during the early waves.
Memories of loss
One especially painful memory was from a 24-hour shift during the second wave, where she certified the deaths of seven patients between the ages of 30 and 55, a situation she describes as a low point. “You’re not expecting otherwise healthy people who are young to die,” she adds painfully.
During this time, Moodley lost both her grandmothers, all while preparing for her final specialisation exams. Balancing the grief with the demands of the pandemic became overwhelming, and she emphasised the critical role that her social support system played. “My family and friends were really there for me. I discovered the importance of having social support and also learning how to prioritise mental health.”
Despite the weight of the experience, one encounter stood out as a reminder of her impact as a doctor. After recognising her voice at a petrol station, a former patient expressed gratitude for her care during his ICU stay. It was a rare moment of triumph amidst the widespread loss and death that had marked the pandemic for her.
After graduating, Moodley chose to specialise in gastroenterology completing her certificate of gastroenterology with distinction at Stellenbosch University in 2024, a decision driven by her fascination with the complexities of the digestive system and its critical role in overall health.
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At the forefront of gastroenterology
Her research has been published in several esteemed medical journals, where she has shared her findings on gastrointestinal diseases, their prevention, and innovative treatment approaches.
Beyond her clinical and research work, Moodley is also a respected leader and mentor in the medical community. She holds several leadership positions within professional organisations, where she advocates for advancements in gastroenterology and the broader medical field. Her leadership is characterised by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and a dedication to improving patient care standards.
As she continues to push the boundaries of gastroenterology, she remains focused on her mission to provide the highest quality care to her patients while advancing the field through research and innovation.
Listen to the full interview on the Health For Mzansi podcast:
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