ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR JESSICA OPIE

Head of Division of Haematology, Department of Pathology

MBCHB Hons (UCT) MRCP (UK) FRCPA (Haem Aus)
 

A/Prof Jessica Opie is Head of Haematology in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS)

After graduating MBChB (Hons) at UCT, she worked and trained as a physician in the United Kingdom, gaining extensive clinical experience including in Medical Oncology and Clinical Haematology at the Royal Marsden Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. She obtained Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP UK) before completing specialist training in Haematology Pathology in Sydney, gaining Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA).

She was inspired to contribute to South African Haematology health care and education and then returned to Cape Town as a consultant haematologist with the NHLS at Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT. She has 18 years’ experience in the tertiary academic haematology laboratory service with broad expertise and research interests including haematological complications of HIV, HIV-associated lymphoma, epidemiology of lymphoma, thrombotic complications of HIV, and haematological complications of COVID and COVID vaccines.

She is a passionate teacher at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is closely involved with specialist registrar teaching and training for physicians and pathologists. She is an examiner, convener, and moderator for the College of Medicine of South Africa (Pathology) and Chairs the UCT Postgraduate Pathology Committee. During her NHLS/UCT career, she has successfully trained more than 15 specialist Haematology Pathologists and 10 Clinical Haematology Fellows in their laboratory rotations. She has successfully supervised 6 Master of Medicine projects and currently supervises 4 Master of Medicine and 1 Master of Science research projects, and has a growing number of research publications in international journals.  

She has been honoured to delivered plenary lectures at international haematology congresses and has recently been appointed to the Board of the International Society of Laboratory Haematology. She strives to lead her dynamic and dedicated team of pathologists, registrars, scientists and students to deliver a high-quality haematology diagnostic service and clinically relevant research, whilst simultaneously teaching and training to a high standard.

June 2023