VANDERBIJLPARK. – Dr. Michael McCormick, a legendary pediatric and general surgeon retired at the end of February 2024. He has been practicing medicine for 49 years.

McCormick was born in Kenya and the family immigrated to South Africa when he was nine. Before studying medicine at the University of Cape Town he was a sailor in the Merchant Navy for four years.

He wanted to become a doctor, specifically a surgeon, for as long as he can remember. After obtaining his medical degree he also obtained a Diploma of Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

In 1976 Michael married Andrea and opened a private practice in Durban. His career took him to GaRankuwa and Stellenbosch.

Throughout the years he saved many lives and performed many operations free of charge on babies.

In 1996 he joined the team at the former Vaalmed Private Hospital (known today as the Mediclinic Emfuleni Hospital).

For the next 27 years, he became a stalwart and a legend in Vanderbijlpark. His patients loved him, and his colleagues saw him as a lifelong friend.

“I’m going to miss them,” he admits. “Years back we used to play golf every Wednesday afternoon. I loved it. The younger doctors don’t have time for golf anymore.”

Dr McCormick turned 76 last year and although his brain is still as sharp as the scalpels he used, he says his body told him it’s time.

“I will still play golf, do some gardening and probably travel more. Or I might go and stay with my middle son in Randburg. He is a lawyer and it’s high time he looks after me,” he laughs.

The McCormicks have three sons and six grandchildren. “My eldest, Alistair is a professor in Biological Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, Nicholas is a lawyer, and my youngest, Philip is Managing Director of an engineering company. I’m proud as punch of all of them.”