As part of its 60th anniversary celebrations, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is introducing 60 future healthcare professionals who are currently in their first year. Meet Jana Eloff.

If she didn’t care so much for other people or felt the urge to help them, Jana Eloff would have possibly opened a restaurant in her mom’s backyard, cooking up a storm. “I love making food. My signature dishes are lasagna and malva-pudding,” she declares.

But Eloff decided to swap her room in Worcester for one in Huis Francie van Zijl and is currently a first year MB,ChB student.

One of her goals is to one day work in a hospital where her skills are needed and where she can give hope to others. She thinks too many people study medicine out of skewed financial interests and says this greed is the biggest challenge the profession has to overcome. “It’s supposed to be about love.”

She says grandfather, Dieter Leicher, is her inspiration and made her believe that anything is possible through hard work. “He went through very difficult times, but he never stopped believing in God and ended up making a huge success of his life.”

Fast facts:

• She’s a master at tug-of- war and was awarded a trophy for best achievement for this in matric.
• Her mother also studied medicine at Stellenbosch University.
• She loves fantasy and has read all the Harry Potter novels.
• Her message to teenagers would be pursue their dreams. “And to work hard. Only you can make your dreams come true.”