#12 - Interview with a public health specialist - Dr. Peter Barron Artwork

The What Happened Podcast

JP Pienaar interviews people from many different professions to find out what they wanted to be when they were younger and what happened after that. We look at what career path(s) they went down and how they are doing in their current job. This podcast is meant to provide help to anyone of any age who is considering what career to pursue. This includes school students who are thinking about what to study at University, people who have been working for a few years and would like to change to another career that they actual enjoy and people who think it’s too late or that they are too old to change their current career situation. Each week we interview someone to find out what it is actually like to work in their profession. If you have ever considered making a move to a different profession then this podcast will help you to find out what that profession is actually like. Most people don’t pursue their true passion. They end up working a job that they hate, to pay the bills. This podcast highlights that we all experience the same kinds of road blocks when trying to pursue our true passion as a career. Those who are truly happy are those who break through these road blocks to pursue their passion. In the words of Tyler Durden: “What did you want to be ? !!!!”

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The What Happened Podcast

#12 - Interview with a public health specialist - Dr. Peter Barron

January 20, 2020 • JP Pienaar/Peter Barron • Episode 12

“You have to be flexible enough to change as technology and your career opportunities change.”

"As much as we think we can plan our lives, often circumstances determine what is going to happen.”

“There is no one path that is right or wrong for somebody.”

“Life is about opportunities and what roads become open to you. It’s not too late.”

Dr. Peter Barron joins us on the podcast for a look at what a day in the life of a public health specialist is like. Peter started his career studying accounting and during his 3rd year he decided that he would like to make a change. He continued with accounting, completing it in 5 years and lecturing in the subject for 1 year at UCT. While on a trip to Greece he considered his future and what he would like to do. At the age of 25 he started a career in medicine amongst a first year class of 18 year old students.

Peter completed medicine in 6 years. After completing his intern year in Windhoek he moved to the Eastern Cape where he took up paediatrics at the age of 32. He worked at a rural hospital for 3 years where he started to think about a better way to help the ever increasing number of out going patients.

Peter then specialized in public health for 4 years and by the age of 39, married with 2 children, he embarked on a career in public health, working for 5 years in primary health care in Khayelitsha.

Peter spent the bulk of his career working in primary health care in South Africa. In 1994 he began setting up the health department in the Northern Cape and followed this with 12 years in primary care at an NGO in Durban.

Peter began consulting, working in Kenya, Nigeria, India , Nepal , Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Senegal and also worked with the world health organization international NGOs.

In 2009 a new minister of health was appointed in South Africa and Peter took up a job in the national department working in Cape Town for 10 years. At the age of 69 he decided to retire from his role.

The final 5 years of Peter’s career included an involvement in mHealth, setting up MomConnect which is used by over 1.5 million women in South Africa during pregnancy.

We take a look back at this astounding career.