Personal blog

From Poland to Málaga: A Doctor’s Story”


I grew up in the north of Poland, a place full of lakes, pine trees, and peace. I knew I wanted to become a doctor before I could even spell the word. That calling led me to study medicine at the University of Gdańsk — a place that gave me knowledge, discipline, and a lifelong love of clinical work.


After graduation, I moved to Scotland and trained at the General Infirmary in Edinburgh. There, I began learning what medicine truly means across cultures — the same care, different languages, different emotions. But life, as always, had other plans.


In 2011, I moved to Spain. It was beautiful, but challenging. My first two years were spent working in public ambulances, answering emergency calls across Málaga. No days off, no routine, lots of adrenaline — and an ocean of learning.


At the same time, I studied for Spain’s MIR exam. I passed, and chose to specialize in Family Medicine at the Hospital General de Málaga — the biggest teaching hospital on the Costa del Sol. Years later, I earned a permanent statutory position there.


But something in me always wanted to offer more personal, more human care.


That’s why I opened a small private consultation — where I can give each patient the time, space, and language they need to feel truly safe.


In this blog, I’ll write about what I’ve learned:

About people, medicine, fear, recovery, motherhood, and joy.

Because sometimes, healing begins long before the prescription.

Between the Emergency Room and the Living Room: A Mother’s Dilemma

Between the Emergency Room and the Living Room: A Mother’s Dilemma

By Anna Bernad • September 5, 2025
Do you live this balance between work and family? Have you found strategies that help your children feel safe and loved, even in your absence?

Doctor, Mummy, and Everything in Between

By Anna Bernad • August 3, 2025
Being a mother of two little girls is the most beautiful, chaotic, grounding experience of my life. And somehow, it’s also the perfect balance (or imbalance!) to the other part of me — the doctor who spends mornings in the biggest emergency department in the Costa del Sol, treating everything from chest pains to knee pain. My days start early. Hospital shoes on. White coat ready. Head in emergency mode. It’s fast, it’s intense, it’s full of adrenaline — and yes, sometimes full of heartache. But it’s also where I’ve learned what resilience, quick decisions, and deep compassion really mean. Then comes the second shift: my private consultations. Calm, more personal. A space where I can take my time, listen to patients in their own language — English, Polish, Spanish — and truly connect. Many are tourists, others are local expats, some are new mums with the same tired eyes I see in my mirror. And then… comes the real marathon. The school pickups. The dance class bags forgotten. Dinner negotiations. Storytime snuggles (that sometimes end with me asleep before them). This is the part no one sees — but the part that defines me the most. 💬 “You can’t do it all,” they say. I smile — because every mum knows: we do it anyway. This blog is for every working mum who’s been told she’s “too ambitious,” “too emotional,” or “too tired.” Yes, we are all those things. And we’re doing it anyway. I want to share with you not just medical advice, but the behind-the-scenes of being a doctor and a mum. Because it’s not always pretty, but it’s always real. 🌿 From Me to You Whether you're a patient, a fellow parent, or someone balancing your own version of chaos — I see you. And I’m glad you’re here.