Taryn – a short biography

I was born in Johannesburg, but grew up in KwaZulu Natal, spending most of my childhood in Empangeni. I went to medical school at the University of Cape Town, where I obtained my MBChB in 2000 (having already met my husband there, whom I married in 1998!) We worked together at Ngwelezana Hospital in Empangeni, before spending a year working in New Zealand in 2003-4. (My first born was nearly born on the plane back!)

In 2005 we moved to Zithulele Hospital, a deeply rural hospital in the Eastern Cape, on the Wild Coast near Coffee Bay and Hole in the Wall. There we were privileged to lead an incredible team, which amongst other achievements, built the hospital up from 55 to 150 beds and reduced child mortality to one-tenth of what it was when we arrived.

In addition to my undergraduate degree, I have a post-graduate diploma in child health from the CMSA as well as ones in anaesthetics and HIV management.

I moved to Ndlambe in October 2022 and to Port Alfred in December 2022, where I have had the privilege of working with Dr Formica for a year, before launching out to build what’s now Drs Taryn & Ben Gaunt.

In addition to Ben, my husband, also a doctor, I have four children, keeping themselves busy between university and finishing school.