Interviewer: Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici, your career reflects a deep sense of purpose rather than a conventional medical trajectory. How would you describe your journey so far?
Dame Dr. Georgiana Farrugia Bonnici: My journey in medicine has been shaped by responsibility, reflection, and a strong commitment to hard work and moral values rather than comfort or predictability. I have always believed that medicine is not simply a profession but a vocation grounded in service, integrity, and respect for human dignity. Every stage of my path—whether challenging or affirming—has strengthened that belief.
Interviewer: Your academic background began even before medical school. How did those early foundations influence you?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: I started with a qualification in diagnostic radiography, which instilled in me a deep respect for diagnostic precision and empathic observation with a medical imaging setting. That initial health-care training has shaped the way I think clinically. When I later graduated as a medical doctor from the University of Malta in 2018, I entered medicine with a broader and more integrated understanding of diagnostics and clinical care, which has remained central to my practice to date.
Interviewer: What were your early clinical years like after graduation?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Between 2018 and 2021, I worked as a foundation doctor across a wide range of healthcare settings in Malta, including major hospitals, community primary health centers, and mental health services. Those years were formative. They exposed me to the realities of modern healthcare across different populations and levels of complexity. I was also involved in Malta’s COVID-19 public health response within the Ministry of Health, which required adaptability, endurance, and perseverance during a time of uncertainty.
Interviewer: You also gained international medical experience early on.
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Yes, in 2019 I undertook medical missionary work in Jhansi, India. Practicing medicine in a resource-limited setting profoundly reinforced my belief that healthcare is fundamentally about service. It taught me humility and reminded me that presence, compassion, and respect can be just as powerful as technology or infrastructure. That experience continues to influence how I approach patients and communities.
Interviewer: You later chose to specialize in family medicine. What drew you to this field?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Family medicine allows me to practice medicine in its most holistic form. We treat patients as individuals in their own social context, not just a symptom. Between 2022 and 2025, I completed specialist training in general practice within the Primary Health Care Department, gaining experience across multiple sub-specialties such as paediatrics, internal medicine, ENT, opthalmology, cardiology, general surgery, psychiatry, geriatrics, orthopaedics, dermatology, urgent care, telemedicine, ob/gyn, oncology and palliative care. I qualified as a family medicine specialist in 2026. What drew me to this field is the continuity—it allows me to care for patients within the context of their families, lives, and long-term health journeys- from the cradle to the grave.
Interviewer: Your clinical exposure spans an impressive range of disciplines. How has this shaped your approach?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Working across several specialties has taught me that health is never one-dimensional. Physical, emotional, and social factors are deeply interconnected in shaping human wellbeing. This breadth has eventually shaped me into a family doctor who values context, continuity, and long-term doctor-patient relationships rather than fragmented care.
Interviewer: You have continued your education extensively alongside clinical work.
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Lifelong learning is essential in medicine. In addition to my medical degree, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Diagnostic Radiography and a Master of Science in Family Medicine. I have also pursued further special interests in nutrition and dietetics, mental health and cognitive behavioral therapy, gerontology and geriatrics, as well as homeopathy, reflexology and creative writing. Currently, I am reading for a postgraduate certificate in ultrasound for family medicine.
Interviewer: How would you define your clinical philosophy?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Intention matters. I focus on listening to my patients, with the aim of gaining trust and continuity of care. I see every patient interaction as a partnership, not a transaction. Patients deserve to feel heard, informed, and respected. I prioritize ethical consistency and long-term outcomes over quick fixes. For me, success is measured by the quality of care and the confidence patients gain in understanding and managing their own health.
Interviewer: What professional achievement holds the most significance for you?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Completing my GP specialist training and attaining the MRCGP (International) qualification during a period of significant personal and systemic challenge stands out. That time required resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Maintaining high professional standards while navigating adversity reaffirmed my commitment to reflective practice, patient safety, and integrity.
Interviewer: Your resilience seems closely linked to personal experiences. Could you share more?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: During medical school, I lost both my parents suddenly. It was a life-altering experience that coincided with the demands of training. I had to rebuild stability while continuing my education, learning independence while grieving. Faith, marriage, routine, and a clear sense of purpose helped me continue my journey in medicine without losing compassion. Those experiences fundamentally shaped the doctor and leader I am today.
Interviewer: You have also spoken openly about systemic challenges in medicine.
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Yes, I have faced professional injustices and obstacles that tested my resolve. I chose to respond with dignity, self-advocacy, and consistency rather than bitterness. Upholding fairness and ethical conduct has become a defining aspect of how I lead and practice.
Interviewer: Looking ahead, what does the future hold for you?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: I am working toward establishing my own private practice primary care clinic that offers inclusive, compassionate, and evidence-based healthcare. I also hope to become a GP trainer, fostering psychologically safe and ethically grounded learning environments. Advocacy remains central to my work, particularly in mental health, neurodiversity rights and protecting vulnerable populations.
Interviewer: You are also active beyond clinical medicine.
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Storytelling matters. Through lifestyle content creation, I share reflections on health, faith, healing, ambition, and growth, aiming to normalize diverse life paths.
Interviewer: Finally, how do you view leadership today?
Dame Dr. Farrugia Bonnici: Leadership is not about recognition. It is about presence, service, and consistency.
It is also about empowering other individuals to be better everyday. To chase their own dreams like the sky is the limit.
As a Dame within the Malta Knight Templars, Order of the Pietà del Pellicano, I view chivalry as active service—through charity, advocacy, and humanitarian work. Medicine itself is an extension of that calling.
I say to others, once you shine your light on the world, you inspire many but trigger a few. Shine anyway!
Dame Dr. Georgiana Farrugia Bonnici’s journey reflects a form of leadership that is steady, ethical, and profoundly human. Through resilience, lifelong learning, and purposeful service, she continues to shape a career that honors both science and soul, reminding us that real impact is built quietly—through courage, care, and commitment.
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