It was to be a slightly original greeting card, posted on LinkedIn at the beginning of 2023 in the form of a video by the director of the Bordeaux Nord polyclinic. We discover Aïcha N’Doye, a surgeon specializing in breast oncology, who sings with the voice of a soul singer in the operating room, for one of her patients, while the anesthesia takes effect. “I thought it was going to remain a little thing on professional networks,” confides to 20 minutes Aïcha N’Doye.
The diva with the scalpel
But the video goes on social networks and the surgeon attracts the attention of many media. At that time, the group Les Soignantes was looking for a third singer and contacted the surgeon diva. It is with this group which covers popular songs by Rihanna, Beyoncé and Sia that she participates in the show “France has an incredible talent” and that she qualified for the semi-final, broadcast on Tuesday December 5 on M6.
Despite her dazzling success, Doctor Aïcha N’Doye keeps her feet on the ground and does not see herself stopping medicine for one minute to devote herself to singing. She continues to work full time at the clinic, recording the album which is released on December 8 on weekends or on her days off. On all fronts, this perfectionist wants to take singing lessons: “I think I can do better, especially in mastering my voice,” she slips. Part of the proceeds from the Soignantes album will be donated to the French Hospital Foundation.
The top 3 of the block
Initially, she only offered to sing to the most stressed of her patients, but her notoriety caught up with her and, from now on, they arrive with a song in mind, sometimes requested during the consultation. The titles that the surgeon covers the most are “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars, “If I ain’t got you” by Alicia Keys and “I have nothing” by Whitney Houston. But be careful, she also knows how to adapt when we ask her for Céline Dion or Charles Aznavour. “I know a lot of songs and, when I don’t know the words to the one that’s asked of me, I put on a little karaoke,” explains the surgeon, who only operates in a music bath.
“When I sing, I take their hand and I look at them until they fall asleep,” she says. It helps me remember that I have patients’ lives in my hands. I tell myself that I will have to work well because they have confidence in me. » If it allows the surgeon to concentrate and appreciate the importance of her task, the song also helps to relax the women before the operation.
“The less stressed we are, the less anesthetic we consume”
“You should know that we wake up as we go to sleep, hence the importance of being soothed,” emphasizes Aïcha N’Doye. The less stressed we are, the less anesthetic we consume. They also have a better experience, because there is always apprehension about going to the operating room. » Recently, one of her patients even joined her in singing. “It was very moving,” she points out.
The young woman believes she has already “won”, in the sense that the group’s desire is to show that it is important, even if the health system is degraded, not to consider patients as numbers and to give them time. . Their tool is music, which also seems to benefit the operating staff, who know they are going to “have a good time”.