The Division of Cardiology at Groote Schuur Hospital is the oldest dedicated clinical cardiology unit in sub-Saharan Africa, and is internationally respected as a leading cardiac center for its academic excellence and outstanding tertiary and quaternary cardiology care, clinical research conduct, and post graduate clinical and clinical-research training. It is a national referral center for patients with complex cardiac disease with in house expertise in advanced diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in congenital, structural, coronary, pericardial and rhythm disorders of the heart. Members of the division are nationally and internationally renowned key opinion leaders in cardiovascular medicine with prominent roles in the setting of local and international clinical guidelines, clinical research priorities, and education and training.
Priority strategic aims of the division of cardiology are:
- To provide public sector patients with the best available evidence based cardiac care; and
- To train the trainers and build public sector and academic cardiology capacity for the country and continent by graduating the next generation of academic cardiologists.
The Divsion offers post graduate training towards the college of medicine certificate in general cardiology, pacing and electrophysiology and interventional cardiology. Degree programs on offer include the clinical masters in cardiology (MPhil), masters by dissertation (MSc Medicine), MD and PhD
Professor Mpiko Ntsekhe (below) the head of Cardiology Division, part of the Department of Medicine, expresses his vision as follows:
“Clinical medicine, teaching, research are the most exciting aspect of my daily tasks…. I would like to create a simple legacy of running a department that consistently finds solutions that allow it to provide best patient care, teaches and trains to the highest standards and contributes to solving the major problems countries face through research”.
Read more about the Division of cardiology here.
Divisional Staff:
- Chair and Head: Mpiko Ntsekhe
- Full time consultants: Associate Professor Ashley Chin, Dr Blanche Cupido, Dr Jens Hitzeroth. Dr Charle Viljoen
- Part time consultants: Professor Ntobeko Ntusi, Professor Karen Sliwa, Professor Liesl Zulhke, Dr Zimasa Jama, Dr Mahmoud Alnaili
- Emeritus Professors: Patrick Commerford
- Emeritus Associate Professors: Rob Scott Millar
- Honorary Professors: Bernie Gersh, Peter Schwartz, Salim Yusuf
- Honorary Associate Professors: Farrel Hellig, Azeem Latib
- Honorary Senior Lecturers: Dr Mark Ableson, Dr Chevaan Hendrickse
Post graduate training trograms
- Cert Cardiology (College of Medicine)
- PhD
- MD
- MSc Medicine
- MPhil
- MMED
The aims of the division of cardiology are:
"Retaining, recruiting and training a team of cardiovascular health care professionals who are dedicated to clinical excellence and public sector health care and who are conscious of the prevaling conditions and environment
To make targeted improvements within the system of health care to address issues of access for patients, contribute to teaching and training (the division of cardiology receives non-resident trainees from around the country and the African continent), and work closely with the Hatter Institute For Cardiovascular Research in Africa. Its research and projects are geared to consolidate and expand the existing efforts to combat cardiovascular diseases and improve the overall prosperity in Africa”
The Division of Cardiology works as “a tertiary referral centre”, based on a networking hub with secondary hospitals in the region, and the standard of care is very high.
The facility includes:
- ICU: 6 beds, with a fast turn-over
- Walk-in patients: 12 beds (including 6 lukewarm beds)
The Clinical Skills Centre is one of the fast-growing entities in the faculty of Health Science providing simulation training in the Faculty of Health Science, and simulation training to all medical and allied health programmes at the Univesity of Cape Town.
I had the opportunity to share a very enriching moment with Rachel Weiss, Director of Clinical Skills Centre! Thank you again to all involved!
"Leading with Excellence"
Department of Medicine