Germiston doctor honoured with CEO Special Award
She was also part of the Bertha Gxowa District Hospital surgical department team that performed its first laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Dr Ferini Dayal-Papagapiou, a distinguished surgeon, has been honoured with the CEO Special Award at the Bertha Gxowa Hospital Service Excellence Awards 2024.
This accolade aims to recognise and reward exceptional efforts by hospital employees.
Dayal-Papagapiou made history as the youngest surgeon in her category to win this award for two consecutive years.
In an interview with Germiston City News, Dayal-Papagapiou expressed her excitement over this milestone in her burgeoning career.
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Additionally, she continues to make history as the Smile Foundation’s first and youngest female surgeon ambassador since last year.
Boasting a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, majoring in Physiology (2014), and an MBBCh (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, 2018) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Dayal-Papagapiou has an impressive academic background.
She completed her internship at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and served as a community service doctor at Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus.
These institutions remain close to her heart, and she continues to collaborate with them through her non-profit organisation, the Dayal Foundation, and her work with the Smile Foundation at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.
Dayal-Papagapiou was also part of the Bertha Gxowa District Hospital surgical team that performed its first laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
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Reflecting on her recent award, she said, “Hearing my name called onstage to accept the CEO Special Award was both startling and exciting.
“This award indicates that my work is recognised; patients and other sources speak well of you, and informed management about this.”
As the only surgeon in her department to have consecutively won this award, Dayal-Papagapiou feels privileged and honoured.
She has overseen the department for the past two years, and the award reflects the team’s diligence and commitment.
“When we first started, there were no operational surgical lists at the hospital.
“We created two elective lists for Mondays and Tuesdays, including stoma reversals (colostomy closures) and laparoscopic cholecystectomies.
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These stoma reversals are part of the ongoing surgical marathons campaign launched by Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, last July during Mandela Day,” she said.
In 2022, Dayal-Papagapiou represented South Africa in Japan at the 60th edition of Miss International.
Despite the occasional overwhelming nature of her work, she credits her success to her support system, which includes friends, family, and colleagues across the four hospitals she is affiliated with: Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, and Bertha Gxowa Hospital.
