Dr Schiceya: Driven by a passion for mental health and well-being
Born and raised in Oshakati, Dr Ferlin Suraia Schiceya has always envisioned a career in the medical field.
For the longest time, she believed she would specialise in paediatrics or gynaecology, but life had different plans for her.
She now works as the chief wellness officer at the mental health care unit of Windhoek Central Hospital and is a member of the therapeutic committee and a deputy coordinator for the orientation programme for graduates.
“I’ve always believed I’d work in paediatrics or gynaecology; however, having done my internship, I was convinced that I could only love kids from a distance – I can’t watch them be sick and die. So when I rotated in the department of psychiatry, something in me moved. Right there and then I knew that psychiatry was my calling,” Schiceya explained.
She earned her medical degree from Saratov State Medical University in Russia in 2016 and in 2017 she completed her internship at Katutura and Central Hospital.
She explained that after completing her internship, no positions were available in psychiatry at the time. As a result, she worked at Robert Mugabe Clinic for 18 months before joining the mental health unit.
Dedicated to mental health
“There's something about mental health that brings me joy and fulfilment. Like I’m working within my purpose,” she said.
Her daily responsibilities include attending to patients, taking medical histories, making diagnoses and initiating treatments. She also prepares medical reports, attends to outreach services, teaches medical students and attends medical workshops, among other duties.
According to Dr Schiceya, building a successful career in psychiatry requires key skills, including mental resilience, empathy and a strong focus on maintaining one's own mental well-being.
“Before you decide to become a doctor, shadow a doctor first, not just one but multiple (in different fields) so that you can have a glimpse of what it takes to be a doctor on a daily basis. Don’t get into medicine for anything else other than passion," she advised.
For the longest time, she believed she would specialise in paediatrics or gynaecology, but life had different plans for her.
She now works as the chief wellness officer at the mental health care unit of Windhoek Central Hospital and is a member of the therapeutic committee and a deputy coordinator for the orientation programme for graduates.
“I’ve always believed I’d work in paediatrics or gynaecology; however, having done my internship, I was convinced that I could only love kids from a distance – I can’t watch them be sick and die. So when I rotated in the department of psychiatry, something in me moved. Right there and then I knew that psychiatry was my calling,” Schiceya explained.
She earned her medical degree from Saratov State Medical University in Russia in 2016 and in 2017 she completed her internship at Katutura and Central Hospital.
She explained that after completing her internship, no positions were available in psychiatry at the time. As a result, she worked at Robert Mugabe Clinic for 18 months before joining the mental health unit.
Dedicated to mental health
“There's something about mental health that brings me joy and fulfilment. Like I’m working within my purpose,” she said.
Her daily responsibilities include attending to patients, taking medical histories, making diagnoses and initiating treatments. She also prepares medical reports, attends to outreach services, teaches medical students and attends medical workshops, among other duties.
According to Dr Schiceya, building a successful career in psychiatry requires key skills, including mental resilience, empathy and a strong focus on maintaining one's own mental well-being.
“Before you decide to become a doctor, shadow a doctor first, not just one but multiple (in different fields) so that you can have a glimpse of what it takes to be a doctor on a daily basis. Don’t get into medicine for anything else other than passion," she advised.
