To heal and inspire is all in a day’s work for Doc John McCutcheon
"I have always wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to help sick people."
POLOKWANE – “I have always wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to help sick people.”
Dr John McCutcheon, one of Review’s (Midweek edition) regular contributors of religious columns, is a medical doctor by profession.
Born and raised in Cape Town, McCutcheon moved to the city in 1983 and has dedicated his life to helping his patients and giving to the poor through his church.
He graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1968 and did his practical work at the Grootte Schuur Hospital and Red Cross hospitals in Cape Town.
In 1970, he started practicing as a doctor at Donna Fraizer Hospital for six years before moving to Kwa-Zulu Natal to the Church of Scotland Hospital, where he worked for another six years.
When he moved to Limpopo, he worked as a medical manager for hospitals in Venda and Polokwane.
He was later promoted to superintendent for Pietersburg and Mankweng hospitals before he retired in 2008.
“After I retired, I stayed home for three years and I did not like retirement at all. I wanted to go back to work, and in 2011, I returned to work and started at Rethabile Clinic as a medical officer.”
McCutcheon, who had been happily married for 45 years and blessed with two children and five grandchildren, says besides being a doctor, he enjoys farming and gardening.
“I enjoy seeing plants come to life and two-week old chickens getting old. I also have a passion for writing. I love writing. I have written a few articles that were published in the US and one in the Sunday Times. I am an elder at the Presbyterian church and most of my articles are Christian articles.
Once in a while I also preach at church,” he says.
“My motto in life is ‘Dzinani la Jesu’ meaning, In the name of Jesus. And a lot of people get healed in the name of Jesus.
“It is very satisfying to see patients getting better. It is a great feeling to see them get better. “
