2020 and 2021 challenged the medical industry in a different and maybe never seen before manner for generations. We talk to Pediatrician Leane Munian to find out how she navigated the season with God as her helper.
Why did you choose medicine?
As idealistic and cliche’ as it sounds, I wanted to make a difference to people’s lives and improve quality of life of South Africans. I matriculated in 1993.
Spiritually, what kind of a space were you in when you started? I’d say quite strong. I was raised in a strong Christian family and I recall kneeling down in prayer with my mum and asking God for medical school placement.
What miracles have you seen God perform in your workplace? So many times I have seen patients and especially children, not only survive and be totally healed without it making any medical sense. I know that Miracles still happen.
What are the best moments you’ve experienced in your workplace? Satisfaction of seeing patients leave the hospital healthy when they’ve come in at death’s door. Know ing that small changes that one makes just to show that extra care result in big improvements.
What is the most difficult experience or challenge you have experienced in your workplace?I qualified as a doctor in 2000 in the middle of the HIV/AIDS fandemic. This was when a day at work in the medica wards meant signing up to 5 death certifi cates before doing the ward rounds. There was a ubiq uitous feeling of helplessness.
On a different note, I was a victim of gender discrimi nation and bullying in the workplace in my previous place of employment, and that was a different type of challenge and one when I really saw God part the seas for me.
It’s been scary. For the first time, you could contract the same illness as your patient, and it was and remains to be a no respecter of persons. Truly humbling.
The social isolation and distancing is difficult especial ly when you are used to hugging/our patients on a daily basis. The fact that you coul make friends and family sick just by being at work was lonely.
I overcome this by just trusting, surrendering my thoughts and fears, and just resting … physically and in His presence. I found fasting really helped with focus and strengthened me immensely.
When was the first time you experienced God’s presence in your life? Growing up in a largely Christian community, I was priveleged to be constantly exposed to evangelism and it was in one of those “old school tent campaigns” when I dedicated my life to Jesus. You never forget the first time you encounter Holy Spirit for yourself.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learnt in your workplace? That there is only so much I can do, and that God is still Sovereign over all things.
How do you intentionally bring God into your work place? As a senior clinician there are more managerial responsibilities and dealing with complaints and human resource issues is the order of the day. I have to continually pray for Wisdom and Grace to deal with difficult challenges.
What has happened in your life that when you think of, you can’t help but smile at God?When you become more aware of God’s presenceand His hand on your life, you see God work in the big and the mundane things. I continually meet people who speak into my life in such a deep and profound way.
What do you wish women knew about allowing God in ones’ workplace? Surrendering to God always makes it better andeasier. There should be no shame, it is not a sign of weakness to rely on God and to declare His goodness daily in your workplace.
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