Neonatologist takes reins of Wits School of Clinical Medicine
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Professor Daynia Ballot, a renowned paediatrician with a sub-speciality in neonatology and an NRF C2 rated researcher, takes the reins as Head of the School of Clinical Medicine. Ballot assumes the role of Head of School after being Assistant Head of School: Cluster C (Obstetrics and Gynecology, Paediatrics and Child Health, Family Medicine and Primary Care).
As Assistant Head of School: Cluster C Ballot was instrumental in strengthening the research and teaching focus across the three departments to improve postgraduate output and collaboration between these departments. “We are delighted that an academic and scientist of Professor Ballot’s calibre will take the reins of our largest school and drive the Faculty’s strategic imperatives to increase research intensity and extend the clinical training platform, with an emphasis on primary health care,” says Professor Martin Veller, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
When asked about the new appointment Prof Ballot said: “The School has a strong foundation and solid reputation contributing to the Faculty and the University. I see my role as leading the processes of strengthening the collaboration of the clusters, operationalising the fundamentals and managing the transformation process of both the undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and learning environments. It’s a significant challenge to take the school to its next level but I am confident with the management team we have in place and with a strong focus on staff development and contribution, it can be achieved.”
Professor Daynia Ballot was inspired by her obstetrician mother to enter the health sciences. She gained her MBBCH from Wits in 1982 and then completed her internship at Hillbrow Hospital. Later she was a medical officer and a Registrar in Pediatrics at Wits. She pursued and completed her PhD (Wits) in 1989, focusing on iron nutrition, and went on to become a Research Registrar at the Neonatal Unit at the Johannesburg Hospital. In 1990 she was admitted as a fellow of the College of Paediatricians of South Africa and registered as a subspecialist in Neonatology with Health Professions Council of SA in 1993.
At Johannesburg Hospital she progressed to Specialist Paediatrician, then to Senior Specialist Paediatrician and later Associate Professor of Pediatrics in 2002. In 2004 she became Principal Specialist Pediatrician in the Neonatal Unit, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) before taking on the role of Assistant Head of School for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Paediatrics and Child Health, Family Medicine and Primary Care (Cluster C) in 2017.
Her volunteer work for the hospital and department of Paediatrics through the Wits Paediatric Fund has helped raise funds for more modern equipment for the Hospital. She has been awarded both the Wits Volunteer and Vice Chancellor’s Academic Citizenship awards for her community commitment. As a researcher Ballot has published more than 60 papers and has established the Project for Improving Neonatal Care (PRINCE) Research programme based at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), which undertakes research into quality improvement in neonatal care in three specific areas -perinatal asphyxia, extreme prematurity and prevention of infection.
he is invited to review many local and international journals and currently serves as a councillor on the Fellowship of the College of Paediatricians.
Ballot names her mentors as Professor Andrew MacPhail, her PhD supervisor who promoted her interest in research, and Professors Alan Rothberg and Peter Cooper, who allowed her to pursue neonatal research while working as a clinician in the department.
When she is not busy at work, Ballot enjoys family activities, reading, and travel.