Training

Medical school:University of Cape Town

Postgraduate qualifications

• MSc (Neuroscience) University of London
• MD (Neurosurgery) University of Cape Town
• FCS (SA) (Neurosurgery)

Year of registration:1997

Further training

• Paediatric Neurosurgery under the mentorship of Professor Jonathan C Peter at Red Cross Children’s Hospital
• Short-term visits to units in Munich, Paris and San Francisco

Areas of interest

• Paediatric Neurosurgery
• Functional Neurosurgery
• Global Surgery
• Education and Training in Surgery
• Neuroscience

Current positions

• Helen and Morris Mauerberger Professor and Head, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Cape Town
• Director, UCT Neuroscience Institute University of Cape Town
• Head, Department of Surgery, University of Cape Town (2017-2021)
• Paediatric Neurosurgeon Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital
• Patron, Student Surgical Society University of Cape Town

Professional affiliations

Leadership

• International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (President 2018, Annual Meeting Chairman 2008)
• World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (2nd Vice President 2017-2019)
• Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (President 2014-2016)
• Society of Neurosurgeons of South Africa (President 2018-2021)
• College of Neurosurgeons of South Africa (Councillor)

Membership

• American Association of Neurological Surgeons (iFAANS)
• American Academy of Neurological Surgeons (Corresponding member)
• World Academy of Neurological Surgeons (Member)
• European Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (Teaching Faculty for Annual Course 2010-2012)
• World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (Chairman of local organizing committee for 2011 Interim Meeting)
• Editorial Boards: Neurosurgery, The Guide (ISPN electronic textbook)

Biosketch

I have been privileged to work in the challenging specialty of neurosurgery for almost 30 years, at the intersection of 3 great South African institutions- Groote Schuur Hospital, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, and the University of Cape Town. Appointed as the Helen & Morris Mauerberger Chair and Head of the Division of Neurosurgery in 2008, I have also served as Director of the Neuroscience Institute and Head of the Department of Surgery (2017-2021). As the largest clinical department with 11 Divisions spanning the Groote Schuur Hospital complex, this position has provided opportunities for operational as well as strategic leadership. The Department of Surgery has moved forward with a clear vision for the future through supporting Divisional leadership, driving transformation, and establishing the interdisciplinary field of Global Surgery within our Faculty.

My vision for Neurosurgery at UCT is to build on the existing strengths of a world-class Division through collaborating with other disciplines in neuroscience, to enhance multidisciplinary patient care and interdisciplinary research. This approach led to the launch of the Neurosciences Initiative in 2015, accreditation of the interdisciplinary Neuroscience Institute in 2016 and construction of a home for this Institute on Groote Schuur Hospital campus, which opened in 2020. This project depended on our ability to raise the necessary funds, securing large donations from philanthropic foundations, together with strong support from the Province and University. 

I care deeply about people and have sought to build productive working relationships within my own Division, the larger Department and the Institute that I lead, and have placed a strong emphasis on professionalism, respect, team-work and clear communication, valuing diversity highly.  Through leadership positions in the Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies, the International Society for Paediatric Neurosurgery Society, and the Society of Neurosurgeons of South Africa, I have been able to drive a vision of the Global South contributing to the leadership of neurosurgery worldwide. There will be no better opportunity for this than the 18th World Congress of Neurosurgery in Cape Town in 2023 -  enabling South African and African neurosurgeons to take their place on the world stage.