GEORGE NEWS - A former employee at Mediclinic George and Geneva will be taking up the reins as the hospital's new general manager at the beginning of September.
Celesté Louw, currently general manager of Mediclinic Milnerton, says she is extremely happy to return to the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains where her home is.
She was appointed in Milnerton in 2023 and has since been commuting between Cape Town and George. She is filling the chair of Kassie Karstens who resigned two months ago.
Louw was formerly the deputy nursing manager of Mediclinic George and Geneva.
"I had the privilege of working with both Kassie Karstens and [his predecessor] George Schutte during my career.
"Both left a lasting legacy at the hospital and within the community. I look forward to building on Kassie's achievements and continuing the great work he has done at the hospital," Louw told George Herald.
"And of course, I am extremely excited - just as the entire community is - to be part of the brand-new hospital and all the opportunities that come with it."
She will be actively involved in every step of the transition to the new premises. The team at Mediclinic George and Geneva, supported by the corporate office, has already developed a detailed plan for the move.
"One of the most remarkable strengths of this team is their adaptability and innovation in challenging situations. I have complete confidence in our ability to manage this transition with expertise," says Louw.
Celesté Louw has a rich career path in the medical field behind her.
Career
She qualified as a professional nurse in 1998 and has since completed postgraduate diplomas in education and health services management, along with a certificate in orthopaedic nursing science. She obtained her master's degree in nursing in 2015.
"My career has provided me with varied clinical, academic and leadership experience, including time spent in surgical, orthopaedic, neurosurgery and mental health nursing. My career in George started in 2007 when I was appointed as a professional nurse in the orthopaedic unit at Mediclinic George. Thereafter I served as a clinical facilitator and then a learning and development facilitator at the hospital."
She also served as a nursing lecturer at the Western Cape College of Nursing in George and was the quality assurance manager at George Hospital before becoming the deputy nursing manager at Mediclinic George.
"I felt a calling to become a nurse. It is far more than just a job - it is a profession deeply connected to those in need of care. Throughout my career, my passion has grown and evolved into caring for the caregivers, which has also become my leadership philosophy."
She likes to create a workplace where people feel motivated and supported. "The ever-changing, dynamic nature of the healthcare setting keeps me engaged and motivated. I am deeply passionate about quality care and patient safety," she says.
When she is not working, she enjoys the outdoors, especially long walks on the beach and hiking. "I particularly enjoy cultivating clivias and gardening and consider myself an amateur musician and artist."
Louw has been living in George for 17 years, so she knows the community and area very well. "Over the years, I have forged close relationships with staff and doctors both at Mediclinic and within the public sector. I am truly looking forward to being home," she says.
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