DOCTOR Jennifer Harrison (32) recently joined Eastcliff Medical Centre, in Eastcliff, Oakdene, with doctors Giflando, Boscia and Dias, making up the team after Dr Colin Hyams passed away earlier this year.
Born in the South of Johannesburg, Jennifer attended Glenanda Primary School and then Park Town Girls, going on to Wits to study medicine.
“I think from way back I always wanted to be a doctor. I loved biology lessons and learning all about the body so it wasn’t a difficult decision when I left high school. I just knew what I wanted to study,” Jennifer said.
She qualified in 2009 and worked her internship and community service at Johannesburg General Hospital and Germiston Hospital. “I was privileged to work with some good doctors since, including Arno and Leticia Strydom, Gert van der Merwe, Irene Coetzee, Hyams and Khoury at their La Rochelle practice, then with Henrietta Pieters in Southdale, before joining this practice full-time. Some of my patients have followed me from the Southdale practice. It’s always great to see a friendly face and I’m looking forward to meeting new patients,” she added.
Jennifer has three children, two girls Alisha and Aaliyah and a boy, Daniel and she encourage a healthy lifestyle. “Natural food is expensive though and I wish we had more fresh organic food available in shops. At weekends we’ll often visit farmers’ markets, not only to look for good quality fresh vegetables but also find interesting arts and crafts.
“I’m a real DIY ‘girl’ and I enjoy fixing up and painting and dabble in abstract art. I think my children have taken after me as they also enjoy painting and making things. I’m also interested in natural medicine and I’ve made up some non-toxic facial and body products which I use and my skin certainly benefits from them although I’m not that confident yet to create a market for my products,” Jennifer laughed.
As a full-time doctor and mother to three, she doesn’t have much spare time but when she has a chance she enjoys watching documentaries and historical and period dramas and often listens to music. “Gospel and contemporary music do it for me, although in saying that I like most music and I find listening to it relaxing. My switch off time!”
Looking towards the future Jennifer says she would like to try and give back to the community in some way and making a difference in women’s lives will be high up on her ‘to do list’. “Women have come far over the years but many still feel inadequate and if there’s a way I can help them, through talks and offering advice, this is something I’d be interested in doing. Right now though I think I have my hands full and my children certainly keep me on my toes. Put it this way, there’s never a dull moment, either at home or at work.”
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