Wits Health Sciences Alumni Take 10 Spots on The M&G’s Top 200 Young South Africans List
- LR
Every year, the Mail & Guardian scours the country to find noteworthy and newsworthy young South Africans to profile in its annual 200 Young South Africans publication. Now in its 12th year, the list has become the country’s most celebrated hallmark of the up-and-coming generation, a who’s who of young people at the top of their field in 10 categories.
This year no more than 10 of the young South Africans profiled in the Health category are Wits Alumni. From doctors to specialists, from medical officers to clinical researchers the category is peppered with remarkable young men and women who trained at the Faculty of Health Science, recently ranked 133 in the world for clinical medicine in the Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects .
Wits graduates and employees listed include:
Dr Aayesha Soni (26) a community service doctor at Helen Joseph Hospital and health advocacy writer determined to raise human rights issues in health.
Dr Kalli Spencer (32), a medical doctor specialising in urology based at the Charlotte Maxeke making reducing prostate cancer his life’s mission.
Dr Lamla Nqwata(31) , a Pulmonogist based at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital working in pulmonology and high care unit while also and embarking on research to investigate atypical mycobacteria.
Dr Nqoba Tsabedze(35) , one of the country’s leading clinician-scientists focused on unlocking the secrets of sudden heart failure prevalent in black South Africans.
Dr Salome Maswime (34 ) an Obstetrician, gynaecologist, lecturer and one of South Africa’s few clinician scientists, devoting her career to improving women’s health
Dr Sivuyile Madikana ,medical officer at the Hillbrow Community Health Centre, as well as in the private sector, passionate about public health in South Africa, specifically raising awareness among the youth about communicable diseases.
Letitia Greener, HIV researcher, tackling sex work, gender-based violence and the impact of HIV to change mindsets, remove stigma and lobby for law reforms.
Natalia Neophytou (27), a Biokineticist and lecturer, deeply passionate about autism, especially using exercise to try and improve physical activity profiles and expand knowledge and understanding of those with Autism.
Dr Thandiswa Ngcungcu, a human geneticist researching complex skin disorders such as albinisim and vitiligo to understand the genes involved in the skin pegmentation better.
Dr Tiisetso Lephoto (26),a microbiology researcher, who is trying to find alternatives using synthetic chemical pesticides.
Dr Nadine Gravett , a senior lecturer and researcher trying understand the evolution of sleep to develop novel alternative non-pharmaceutical therapies for the treatment and management of insomnia.