This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Maria Phalime followed her dreams and went into medicine. After a “hellish” experience throughout her brief time as a doctor working in public hospitals, she followed her heart and left medicine. Writing about that experience in a memoir titled ‘Postmortem, the Doctor Who Walked Away’ has been a cathartic process for her. She shares thoughts on "what becomes available when we have the courage to let go" in this deeply personal TEDxJohannesburg 2014 talk.

Maria Phalime is a medical doctor and award-winning author based in Cape Town. After qualifying in 1999 she practiced medicine for four years before deciding to leave the profession. In 2012 Maria was the recipient of the inaugural City Press Nonfiction Award for her memoir, Postmortem – The Doctor Who Walked Away. In 2013 her novel for teens, Second Chances, was the English language category winner of the Maskew Miller Longman Literature Awards.

Maria on Twitter: @MariaPhalime
Web: http://mariaphalime.com

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)