Dr. Johan Opperman

Dr. Johan Opperman is an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist with a specialist Master of Dental Surgery from the University of the Western Cape, a Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Odontology, and undergraduate degrees in Science and Dentistry from Stellenbosch University. He serves as a Principal Consultant Pathologist at Tygerberg Hospital, one of the largest academic hospitals in South Africa, and with the National Health Laboratory Service, where he provides expert diagnostic services and consultation for complex head and neck lesions. His research interests include salivary gland pathology, odontogenic tumours, oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer, and forensic odontology. He has authored 23 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to three book chapters, serves as a reviewer for multiple international journals, and has presented extensively at national and international conferences. A passionate educator, he is actively involved in undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional development programmes, committed to advancing diagnostic excellence, research collaboration, and knowledge translation in oral and maxillofacial pathology.

Dr. Danny De Wet

Dr. Danny De Wet is a senior anatomical pathologist and lecturer at Stellenbosch University, bringing 13 years of postgraduate experience to my role. My expertise spans across various domains, with a particular focus on cytopathology, breast pathology, and health professions education. My dedication to advancing medical education is underscored by my attainment of a master’s in health professions education. Throughout my career, I have been committed to both clinical excellence and academic mentorship, striving to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals. I have played a key role in the renewed MBChB curriculum introduced at Stellenbosch in 2022 and in programmatic assessment, including administering the annual Progress Tests. My work not only involves diagnosing complex pathological cases but also contributing to the academic community through research and teaching. I am passionate about improving patient outcomes and fostering a deeper understanding of pathology among students both under- and postgraduate.

Dr. Mishalan Moodley

Dr. Mishalan Moodley is a trained Medical Scientist and current Bioinformatician at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), where he supports genomics projects in both oncology and infectious diseases. He has more than 15 years of experience in molecular diagnostics and next-generation sequencing (NGS), spanning clinical applications, research, and training. He began his career as a Medical Scientist at NHLS Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, establishing molecular diagnostic assays, including NGS for haematological and solid tumours. He later served as an Applications Specialist at Illumina, focusing on oncology and sequencing technologies. Dr. Moodley holds a PhD in cancer genomics, with research centred on integrated methylome and transcriptome analysis in South African patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. At NICD, he is actively involved in exome and whole-genome sequencing, custom panel validation, and infectious disease surveillance. He also contributes to national training and capacity building, bridging precision oncology with infectious disease genomics.

Dr. Christie Esterhuysen

Dr. Christie Esterhuysen graduated with an MMed Anatomical Pathologist, Cumm Laude in 2007 from UFS. She is passionate about service delivery in the Provincial sector especially within the resource restrictions we face and the importance of registrar training. Although she is a general pathologist her main fields of interest are gynae pathology and renal pathology and she is a registered renal pathologist at the Renal Pathology Society. She is also busy with a post graduate diploma in health profession education. She has published two articles and supervised numerous registrars with their MMed’s. She has been invited to speak at local congresses and an international renal pathology congress. She has lots of extracurricular interests that include open water swimming, and has successfully completed the Robin Island Crossing, is a qualified pilates instructor and loves playing padel.

Prof. Reubina Wadee

Prof. Reubina Wadee attended medical school at the University of the Witwatersrand. In her fourth year (2002), she undertook an elective in the department of Anatomical Pathology. In 2003, during her fifth year of studies, she undertook an elective in clinical medicine at Yale University, in the United States of America. She obtained an MBBCh degree in 2004. She carried out her internship at Helen Joseph Hospital followed by community service at Dr. Yusuf Dadoo hospital. She elected to specialise in Anatomical Pathology and obtained her qualification from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa in 2011. She then obtained her Master of Medicine in the field of Anatomical Pathology in 2013. She has subsequently obtained a PhD in Anatomical Pathology from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2019. She lectures at the University of the Witwatersrand to postgraduate and undergraduate students and is course co-ordinator for the pathology course offered to MSc and Diploma Physiotherapy students. She has a keen interest in gynaecological and molecular pathology and is undertaking further research in these fields. She supervises several MMed and PhD students. She is the current Head of the Division of Anatomical Pathology, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service. She has a keen interest in gynaecological and molecular pathology and has published several papers in these fields and has international collaborations. She is a reviewer for 17 journals. She is also on the University’s Human Research Ethics committee; as well as the Transformation committee. She assists on the Doctoral proposals research committee; and has served on the University Forum. Further, she serves on the International Society of Gynecological Pathology’s LiVE committee, the British Association of Gynaecology Pathology and is an international Pathology mentor for the International Gynecological Cancer Society.

Prof. Reubina Wadee

Prof. Reubina Wadee attended medical school at the University of the Witwatersrand. In her fourth year (2002), she undertook an elective in the department of Anatomical Pathology. In 2003, during her fifth year of studies, she undertook an elective in clinical medicine at Yale University, in the United States of America. She obtained an MBBCh degree in 2004. She carried out her internship at Helen Joseph Hospital followed by community service at Dr. Yusuf Dadoo hospital. She elected to specialise in Anatomical Pathology and obtained her qualification from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa in 2011. She then obtained her Master of Medicine in the field of Anatomical Pathology in 2013. She has subsequently obtained a PhD in Anatomical Pathology from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2019. She lectures at the University of the Witwatersrand to postgraduate and undergraduate students and is course co-ordinator for the pathology course offered to MSc and Diploma Physiotherapy students. She has a keen interest in gynaecological and molecular pathology and is undertaking further research in these fields. She supervises several MMed and PhD students. She is the current Head of the Division of Anatomical Pathology, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service. She has a keen interest in gynaecological and molecular pathology and has published several papers in these fields and has international collaborations. She is a reviewer for 17 journals. She is also on the University’s Human Research Ethics committee; as well as the Transformation committee. She assists on the Doctoral proposals research committee; and has served on the University Forum. Further, she serves on the International Society of Gynecological Pathology’s LiVE committee, the British Association of Gynaecology Pathology and is an international Pathology mentor for the International Gynecological Cancer Society.

Dr. Gamalenkosi Nhlonzi

Dr. Nhlonzi is former acting HOD Anatomical Pathology -NHLS KwaZulu-Natal and University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is passionate about teaching and research and has presented his work in local and international congresses. He recently been a faculty member for the ESCMID Advanced Course on Histopathology of Parasitic Infections. He has successfully supervised MMED students. Current research projects include Breast cancer in African women in KwaZulu-Natal, Histopathological audit of SARS Co. V2 infected deathsautopsy review. He is passionate about athletics, leading active healthy lifestyle and is a founding member of Manguzi Athletic Club of which he remains the chairperson of the club. He is an avid marathon runner in his spare time

Dr. Abrie van Wyk

Dr. Abrie van Wyk, MBChB, MMed (Anat Path), is a consultant pathologist in the Division of Anatomical Pathology at NHLS Tygerberg and Stellenbosch University. He obtained his medical degree with distinction from the University of Pretoria in 2003 and completed a MMed in Anatomical Pathology with distinction at Stellenbosch University in 2011. Dr. Van Wyk developed his expertise through roles at the NHLS in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) and a private pathology practice in Cape Town before returning to NHLS Tygerberg in 2015. He has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications and has a particular interest in genitourinary and gastrointestinal pathology.

Dr. Liska Budding

Dr Liska Budding is an anatomical pathologist at the Department of Anatomical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), University of the Free State (UFS). In 2016, she earned her MBChB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and completed her internship at the Universitas Hospital Complex. During her community service at the NHLS, Liska discovered her passion for anatomical pathology, research and infectious diseases. In 2022, Liska’s accomplishments in the Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, at Wits University, earned her the esteemed James Gear medal. In 2024, she obtained her MMed, with distinction, from UFS and became a fellow of the College of Pathologists. Although Liska has only published 4 articles, thus far, she aims to continue her research endeavors at the NHLS and aspires to provide patients in her community with accurate, timely histopathological diagnoses. Liska hopes to obtain her doctorate in anatomical pathology and masters in cytopathology in the near future

Dr. Mary Kathryn Bohn

Dr. Mary Kathryn Bohn is a clinical biochemist at Unity Health Toronto in Toronto, ON, Canada. Dr. Bohn completed her clinical chemistry postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto in 2025. She obtained her PhD in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto where her research focused on improving the interpretation of biomarkers of health and disease in pediatrics and pregnancy as part of CALIPER (Canadian Laboratory Initiative of Pediatric Reference Intervals) at The Hospital for Sick Children. Dr. Bohn has published over 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts and presented her work nationally and internationally. Her research has led to recognition from the Canadian Society for Clinical Chemists (CSCC), Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), Association of Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine (ADLM), and SickKids Research Institute. Mary Kathryn is an active member of the clinical chemistry community and contributes to various special interest groups related to reference intervals, harmonization, and quality improvement.

Dr. Daleen Kriel

Dr. Daleen Kriel is a consultant in haematopathology at the Groote Schuur and Red Cross Children’s Hospital NHLS laboratories. She is a general haematopathologist actively involved in consultative haematology and reporting of morphology, coagulation, haemoglobinopathy testing and flow cytometry, while also serving on research support committees in the Department of Pathology at UCT. Dr Kriel was recently selected to join the Anemia and Red cell disorders committee of the International Society of Laboratory Haematology. She enjoys teaching and training, and values pragmatic approaches to everyday haematology questions.

Dr. Kathy-Anne Strydom

Dr. Kathy-Anne Strydom is a pathologist specialising in medical microbiology, currently working in the Microbiology Department of the Ampath National Reference Laboratory in Centurion, Gauteng. She graduated from the University of Pretoria’s medical school in 2008, where she also completed her MMed and FCPath in Medical Microbiology with distinction in 2015. She maintains her affiliations with the University of Pretoria as an extraordinary lecturer in the Department of Medical Microbiology. She has a particular interest in antibiotic resistance in Gram negative pathogens, as well as the use of molecular diagnostics in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

Mrs. Anura David

Mrs Anura David is a medical scientist and PhD candidate with over 15 years of experience in the development and evaluation of molecular diagnostics for tuberculosis, with a focus on resource-limited settings and TB/HIV coinfection. She contributed to national evaluations of Xpert MTB/RIF, Xpert Ultra, BD MAX MDR-TB, and cobas MTB, supporting their adoption within South Africa’s National Priority Program. Her work centres on pre-market development of diagnostics that improve patient care across the testing pathway. She also plays an active role in supporting a molecular external quality assessment programme that uses dried culture spot technology to ensure reliability and consistency in TB diagnostics

Prof. Olga Perovic

Olga Perovic, Principal Pathologist and Associate Professor Current positions  Director, AMR Division at WITS Health Consortium, Johannesburg, South Africa  Honorary Principal Pathologist at Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory and Culture Collection at Centre for Healthcare-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycoses (CHARM) at NICD and  Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, from May 2013.  Head, WHO Collaborative Centre for AMR, 2017 up to date. Professional skills Antimicrobial resistance and characterization of bacterial organisms remain focus of her activity as clinical microbiologist/pathologist at NHLS/NICD since 2000. Further, she established Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory (AMRL) in 2010 at NICD for reference diagnostic, surveillance and public health purposes focusing on ESKAPE organisms. As an expert she was a member of Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on AMR in South Africa, which involved contribution to National Action Plan (NAP) for AMR and Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines. Olga has taken responsibilities for national and international External Quality Assessment (EQA) Programs for microbiology since 2009. She is a member of number of WHO network working groups such as GLASS, since 2013 and was member of AG-CIA; TAG on Vaccine and AMR and Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) on AMR at WHO, 2013-2018. Olga was the recipient and principal investigator of external grants, (active grants) and one of them- SAMRC-Antimicrobial resistance prevalence and transmission between animal feed and humans; ATLAS surveillance project, Fleming Fund- External Quality Assessment in Africa phase 1 & 2; WHO EQA grants and others. Olga provides expertise and technical inputs for training in bacteriology and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, EQA; laboratory QMS implementation, and laboratory policy development as a priority to the African Union states members. Olga has supervised and mentored numerous postgraduate students and published over 100 manuscripts

Prof. Anne von Gottberg

Prof. Anne von Gottberg is currently the laboratory lead at the Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Johannesburg, and Associate Professor within the School of Pathology, Faculty of the Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits); and Honorary Professor, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town. She leads a laboratory team responsible for reference diagnostics for respiratory and meningitis pathogens nationally and regionally. She is currently a member of several committees and technical advisory groups and is chairperson of the National Advisory Group for Immunisation (NAGI) in South Africa. Her main interests include surveillance for meningitis and respiratory pathogens, assessing vaccine effectiveness where relevant. Dr von Gottberg obtained her MBBCh and PhD at Wits, and trained for her specialisation in clinical microbiology (FC Path[SA] MICRO) at the NHLS and Wits.

Prof. Adrian Brink

Professor Adrian Brink is Head of the Division: Medical Microbiology, and member of the Institute of Infectious Disease & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town and the National Health Laboratory Services, Groote Schuur hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Prof Brink was founding President of the Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa. His is main research interests are the mechanisms of resistance as a confounder in antibiotic stewardship, the design and implementation of large-scale antibiotic stewardship interventions in LMICs. The current focus also includes translating genomic One Health research priorities into action at the human-animal-environment interface.

Dr. Penny Moore

Dr Penny Moore is the South African Research Chair of Virus-Host Dynamics and Research Professor at Wits University and NICD. She is Director of the Antibody Immunity Research Unit, an extramural unit of the SAMRC and a Research Fellow at the Infectious Diseases and Oncology Research Institute. She also holds a joint appointment as Honorary Senior Scientist in Virus-Host Dynamics at CAPRISA, UKZN. Penny directs a research group who work in the fields of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine discovery, combining Virology, Immunology and Bioinformatics. More recently, the team has expanded to work on Influenza, Cytomegalovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Adenoviruses and Ebola.

Dr. Jeremy Nel

Dr. Jeremy Nel is a physician and infectious diseases specialist, and the head of infectious diseases at Helen Joseph Hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand. He completed a transplant infectious diseases fellowship at the University of North Carolina, is past president of the Infectious Diseases Society of South Africa, and is an active member of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society. He has published research in the fields of HIV, tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacteria, COVID and cryptococcal meningitis, and lead or participated in clinical trials in COVID-19, cryptococcal meningitis, and pneumonia therapeutics.

Dr. Homie Razavi

Dr. Homie Razavi is the Managing Director and founder of the CDA Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to hepatitis elimination. He is also a fellow in the Society of Decision Professionals and has 25 years of decision analysis experience. In the last 10 years, he has focused his efforts on supporting public health decisions related to viral hepatitis elimination. He and his team collaborate with over 100 countries globally to develop and implement national programs. In addition, he started the Polaris Observatory which has become the gold standard in global and country-level HBV and HCV burden estimates.

Dr. Emily Prendergast

Dr Emily Prendergast is a doctor and research clinician from the UK whose work spans multiple disciplines (infectious diseases, global health, community engagement, anthropology). Emily undertook an undergraduate degree in Human Social and Political Sciences and a subsequent postgraduate degree in Medicine at the University of Cambridge, followed by internships and clinical fellowships at St Thomas’ and St George’s Hospitals in London. Here, she acquired an interest in HIV-related cryptococcal disease, leading to qualitative research and community engagement work in Johannesburg. Emily is the Lead Clinician of ADVANCE GERMS-SA, investigating severe infections in people with advanced HIV disease in South Africa.

Dr. Christopher Ealand

Dr. Christopher Ealand is a researcher at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), based at the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) in Braamfontein. He obtained his PhD from the University of Cape Town and now specializes in Biomedical Tuberculosis Research – spanning basic, clinical and translational mycobacteriology. This includes the characterization of enzymes involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis; and the development of diagnostic tools and probes for the detection for TB, such as tongue swabs and novel fluorescent stains. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he developed qPCR-based assays for detecting circulating SARS-Cov-2 variants. Dr. Ealand is a recipient of prestigious fellowships from Columbia University, CSIR, NRF, and the South African Medical Research Council and has mentored/graduated several postgraduate students in the faculty of Health Sciences. cademically active and enjoys research. During his post-graduate studies, he collaborated with colleagues at Brigham and Women’s hospital, Boston (USA), with specific work on foetal alcohol syndrome and sudden infant death syndrome. Dan has published in many peer-reviewed journals and has presented at local and international congresses. Dan is a Fellow of the European Confederation of Neuropathological Societies. He is a recipient of National Research Foundation (Desmond Tutu Foundation) fund.

Dr. Dan Zaharie

Dr. Dan Zaharie MD, MMed(AnaPath), MMed(ForPath), FC ForPath(SA), EFN Dr Dan Zaharie has been a qualified anatomical and forensic pathologist for more than two decades, with extensive experience in both in vivo and post-mortem pathology. He qualified as a neuropathologist in 2013 – currently the only neuropathologist in South Africa and is employed jointly by the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and the University of Stellenbosch (US), South Africa.Dan also holds appointments as senior lecturer in Neuroscience module and the Forensic Medicine department of the Faculty of Health Sciences, US. He has recently completed his PhD “New insights in the pathogenesis of granulomatous inflammation in neurotuberculosis” (Vrije University of Amsterdam and University of Stellenbosch). He is passionate about all aspects of neuropathology and sharing his knowledge with students (both pre- and post-graduate) and healthcare colleagues in order to improve the life of patients. Dan is academically active and enjoys research. During his post-graduate studies, he collaborated with colleagues at Brigham and Women’s hospital, Boston (USA), with specific work on foetal alcohol syndrome and sudden infant death syndrome. Dan has published in many peer-reviewed journals and has presented at local and international congresses. Dan is a Fellow of the European Confederation of Neuropathological Societies. He is a recipient of National Research Foundation (Desmond Tutu Foundation) fund.

Dr. Chemedzai Esnath Chikomba

Dr. Chemedzai Esnath Chikomba is Senior Pathologist for Point-of-Care Testing (POCT), National Priority Programmes, NHLS, South Africa Dr. Chemedzai Chikomba is the Senior Pathologist for Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) within the National Priority Programmes of the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), South Africa. A specialist in Chemical Pathology, she holds a Fellowship from the College of Medicine of South Africa, an MMed from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a POCT Specialist Certificate from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. She previously served on the NHLS POCT Pilot Team, leading national validations of chemistry, immunochemistry, and blood gas analyzers, and continues to drive strategic implementation and quality oversight of POCT across the country. Her portfolio includes health technology assessments, national glucometer verification, and risk-based training models for decentralized diagnostics. She is an active academic with multiple conference presentations to her name, including POCT Africa, and contributes to registrar training and postgraduate research supervision. Dr. Chikomba’s interests span diagnostic equity, digital integration, and policy-driven laboratory innovation across low- and middle-income health systems

Prof. Annalise Zemlin

Prof. Annalise Zemlin is Head of Division of Chemical Pathology (National Health Laboratory Service and University of Stellenbosch) at Tygerberg Hospital. Her main research interests are Laboratory Management and Operational Research, Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine, Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease, Point of Care testing, and more recently Laboratory Investigation and Outcomes in COVID-19. She is the past chair of and now consultant for the IFCC committee on Evidence-Based Laboratory Medicine and currently a member of the IFCC committee for Laboratory Management. She is a corresponding member of the IFCC committees for Point of Care Testing, the Education on the Use of Biomarkers in Diabetes, and the Value Proposition in Laboratory Medicine. She is actively involved in module and curriculum development, training of undergraduate students, teaching and supervising of postgraduate students, and is module coordinator of the South African Laboratory Management Module in Pathology. This module is presented to all senior pathology registrars in South Africa. She has a keen interest in the extra-analytical phases of laboratory testing and the use of laboratory audits as quality improvement tools. She has performed numerous laboratory audits in South Africa and with other countries in Africa. She is a founder member of the College of Pathologists of East, Central and Southern Africa which was founded in Kampala, Uganda in 2010

Dr. Verena Gounden

Dr Verena Gounden, completed her undergraduate studies (MBChb) at the University of Natal. She undertook her specialised training at the NHLS labs at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic and Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospitals in 2006. She completed her FCPath (Chem Path) in 2009 and was awarded her MMED in 2010. Dr Gounden joined the Department of Chemical Pathology at IALCH as a consultant in 2011. She spent two years on a visiting fellowship at the Clinical Laboratory at the NIH, Clinical Centre in Bethesda, USA. She returned to IALCH in 2014 and was appointed Head of Department in 2016. She is currently the consultant chemical pathologist providing oversight in 4 laboratories in the west of Ireland including the Galway University hospital where she also chairs the hospital Near-Patient testing committee. Dr Gounden was awarded the status of Diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Chemists in 2014, her PhD in Medical Biochemistry in 2021 and fellow of Royal College of Physicians Ireland in 2025. She is a current member of the IFCC task force on Outcome based studies in Laboratory Medicine. She has over 50 peer reviewed publications and several book chapters

Dr. Marli Dercksen

Dr. Marli Dercksen is a clinical biochemist with over 20-years of expertise in chemical pathology and biochemical genetics. As Chief Medical Scientist and Consultant at the Centre for Human Metabolomics, North-West University, she leverages her laboratory skills and clinical knowledge to advance diagnostic testing through cutting-edge methodologies like hyphenated mass spectrometry. Dr. Dercksen's expertise encompasses biochemical and genetic diagnosis of rare diseases, patient-driven research, and training scientists and medical professionals in biochemical genetics. She's a strong advocate for newborn screening, believing it should be a standard practice for all South African neonates. Her notable achievements include establishing Sub-Saharan Africa's first dedicated lysosomal storage disorder diagnostic platform, contributing to Africa's first rare disease biobank, serving on the Committee of Medical Science, HPCSA (2021-2023) and, obtaining registration with the European Board of Medical Genetics as a clinical laboratory geneticist specializing in biochemical genetics (2022). Dr. Dercksen finds solving complex biochemical mechanisms in inherited metabolic diseases deeply rewarding, as it significantly impacts the lives of many families. Her collaboration with the Nngwe initiative (ONE Network, ONE goal, ONE life changed) has brought this vision to life, enabling undiagnosed patients in South Africa to benefit from her and her team’s expertise

Prof. Sedef Yenice

Prof. Sedef Yenice is an internationally renowned leader in clinical biochemistry, laboratory medicine, and healthcare quality systems. With over 30 years of experience, she holds a PhD in Medical Biochemistry and an MBA in Executive Management. Prof. Yenice chairs the IFCC Visiting Lecturer Program and the EFLM Committee on Continuing Professional Education, while actively contributing to global accreditation and education initiatives. She has delivered over 100 lectures worldwide and received prestigious awards, including the EFLM Academy Award. Academically, she has founded and led biochemistry departments at multiple universities. Clinically, she serves as Director of the Central Clinical Laboratory at Group Florence Nightingale Hospitals, Istanbul.

Prof. Joris R. Delanghe

Prof. Joris R. Delanghe is known in the field of clinical chemistry, urinalysis and plasma protein chemistry. He received his MD (1982) and PhD (1989) at Ghent University (Belgium). He was trained in laboratory medicine and nuclear medicine in Bruges, Leuven, Ghent, and Stuttgart. Since 1990, he is in charge of the Clinical Chemistry Laboratory at the Ghent University Hospital. In 1994, he became professor of clinical chemistry at the Ghent University. He is also a member of the Doctoral Committee of the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Ghent University). Prof. Dr. Delanghe has authored or co-authored over 400 peer reviewed publications, over 20 book chapters, and over 400 published abstracts. He is the vice-president of the Royal Belgian Society for Clinical Chemistry. Since 2003, he has been co-editor-in-chief of Clinica Chimica Acta. He has spoken on his research throughout Europe, the U.S., Africa, and Asia. He has been visiting professor in Lithuania, Zimbabwe, China, and Rwanda.

Dr. Stephanie Kennedy

Dr Stephanie Kennedy is a haematologist at the NHLS Universitas Academic Laboratory and senior lecturer at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein. She holds an FCPath (SA) Haem, MMed (Haem), MSc (Internal Medicine), MBChB, and BMus all cum laude. Stephanie is particularly interested in multidisciplinary research and is currently involved in projects at the interface of haematology and infectious diseases, including mycobacteria, fungi, and HIV. As manager of the Universitas Academic Hospital Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Clinic, she is involved in the clinical care of patients with bleeding disorders, as well as research related to HHT, other bleeding disorders, and iron deficiency. As a pathologist, Stephanie particularly enjoys morphology and flow cytometry.

Prof. Zivanai Cuthbert Chapanduka

Zivanai Cuthbert Chapanduka MD (Zi) is currently associate professor and head of the division of haematological pathology at Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service department of haematology in Cape Town South Africa.

He obtained two diplomas in medical laboratory technology and the MBChB degrees from the University of Zimbabwe. He did his specialist haematology training at University of Natal Medical School, graduating FCPath(SA).Haematology in 1995. Zi then worked as a Transfusion Medicine Fellow and Deputy Medical Director at the Natal Blood Transfusion. After 4 years in private pathology practice, he worked abroad in clinical and laboratory haematology, and laboratory administration. He graduated, MBA(Liverpool) in 2008 and worked in the pharmaceutical industry as Medical and Regulatory Director, and Corporate Affairs for South and Sub-Saharan Africa then in Sales and Marketing in the UAE, Oman and Bahrain.

Zi has many research interests. Having started his research career in dietary iron overload, his current research portfolio includes the subjects: Leadership, Management and Administration, Artificial Intelligence in diagnostic pathology, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, Multiple Myeloma and general laboratory haematology.

Prof Chapanduka is a Trustee and Senator of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and President of the Federation of South African Societies of Pathology. He sits on several committees of Stellenbosch University and boards of directors of private companies.