Zimbabwe's first female cardiothoracic surgeon makes history

Dr. Kudzai Kanyepi says she has always known that surgery is where she belongs. Today, she is Zimbabwe's first female cardiothoracic surgeon, breaking barriers and inspiring other women to follow.

"There was something about the definitive management of surgery. If someone has got a lump that needs to be removed, you remove it and they are cured. That always attracted me to surgery. But specifically, heart surgery, there was always a need for more heart surgeons," she said.

After years of specialized training in neighboring South Africa, she returned home in 2022, making history as Zimbabwe's first female heart surgeon and only the 12th in Africa. But breaking the glass ceiling did not make her journey any easier.

"When I got back home, the reality of being in a male-dominated space hit hard. I had to prove myself once again. I had to fight battles that are unsaid and unseen. It is a challenge navigating a male-dominated sphere."

Beyond the operating theatre, Dr Kanyepi is also shaping the future of medicine. She teaches at a local university, mentors young doctors, and makes a deliberate effort to be visible so that young women can see what is possible.