Welcome 2024 IRF Africa Fellows!
Dr. Maxwell Amo
Hometown: ACCRA, GHANA
Current Organization: KORLE BU TEACHING HOSPITAL
Field Mentor:
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Its an area of medicine I am passionate about and would like to sub-specialize. To be able to help individuals with disabilities from disease conditions or injuries, especially sports injuries improve function.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Musculoskeletal/ Sports rehabilitation, procedural injections and pain management
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to start a Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation Clinic which will be the first of its kind in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to comprehensively manage individuals and families that require our services. Also, I hope to work with a Sports federation in the near future..
What do you like to do in your free time?: Spending time with my family watching movies and football
Dr. Ernest Anim-Opare
Hometown: ABURI, Ghana
Current Organization: KORLE BU TEACHING HOSPITAL
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: To expand the faculty and meet Ghana's demand for specialists in Sports, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Medicine, more fellows are required. In order to reduce the gap in rehabilitation care, my long-term professional ambition is to establish a one-stop-shop center of excellence for Sports, Exercise, and Rehabilitation in Ghana .This interdisciplinary team will include exercise physiologists, psychologists, sports physicians, nutritionists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, and sports massage therapists. I have begun speaking with the senior family doctors, as well as the other professionals on this multidisciplinary team, including a nutritionist and psychologist, and when I return, they will be just as determined to lead this project.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Sports and Exercise Rehabilitation, pediatric and geriatric rehabilitation
Vision after completing the fellowship: After completing my studies pursuing the physical medicine and rehabilitation fellowship, I will begin training nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and psychologists in order to increase our human resource capacity to provide rehabilitation services at the Korle Bu Polyclinic, and other hospitals as well. I will also share important knowledge with the technical directorate of the Ghana Football Association in order to advance sports science in Ghana. I will also more organize seminars to pass on knowledge gathered from my physical medicine and rehabilitation fellowship.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Reading current affairs and watching football matches
Dr. Donavan Clarke
Hometown: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Current Organization: Nurture Aurora Hospital
Field Mentor: Dr. Marius Wasserfall
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Having previously worked as a medical officer, the rehabilitation setting seemed to be on the opposite side of the medical care spectrum. Fast forward to my now 7 years of experience in the rehabilitation medicine field. I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey in the field from day one. Unfortunately, undergraduate exposure to the field of rehabilitation medicine is basically non-existent which overflows to limitations in the availability of resources and guidance compared to other subspecialities of medicine. Also, rehabilitation medicine is not recognized as a formal field of specialty despite the growing need for such a service and the proven benefit provided to a wide range of patient groups and their loved ones.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Orthopaedic rehabilitation. Stroke rehabilitation. Spinal cord injuries. Use of botulinum toxin for spasticity.
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to continue expanding my knowledge and expertise to provide a medical service that is evidence based and up to date..
What do you like to do in your free time?: Spending time with my wonderful family. Running. Mountain biking.
Dr. Lionel de Gouveia
Hometown: Ballito, Kwazulu Natal Province, South Africa
Current Organization: Nurture Ilembe Hospital
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I am interested in the body-brain-mind connection. Rehabilitation medicine is about more than medication.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Stroke, complex medical, acute-rehab
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to improve the level of care provided in my rehabilitation setting, set-up an OPD/follow up clinic.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Running, reading, yoga.
Dr. Irshaad Hayat
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Current Organization: Newlands Nurture Hospital
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: A special entity that is very broad and so much more uncovering that needs to still unfold
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Orthopaedic and sports
Vision after completing the fellowship: To travel and expand my knowledge to my Rehabilitation team and others
What do you like to do in your free time?: Sports!
Dr. Rhonda-Leigh Naidoo
Hometown: Durban, South Africa
Current Organization: Life Entabeni Rehabilitation
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Rehabilitation medicine is a unique field of medicine which I find can be quite challenging, but very rewarding. To be able to help those vulnerable individuals who are often overlooked in society and provide them specialized care tailored to their specific needs.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Stroke rehabilitation and spinal cord injury
Vision after completing the fellowship: To use the experience and knowledge gained in this program to be able to educate others, provide specialized outreach programs, expand networks and develop a highly skilled team who are able to produce better patient outcomes.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Play with my kids and take them on 'adventures'
Dr. Vaishali Padayachy
Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa
Current Organization: Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Rehabilitation medicine aims improves quality of life no matter what the underlying condition. .
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Pediatric, Cancer and Neuro Rehabilitation
Vision after completing the fellowship: To improve the quality of care for patients at grass-root level, promote rehabilitation in the medical school syllabus and promote rehabilitative palliative care.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Spend quality family time
Dr. Nicci Snyders
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Current Organization: Faircape Tokai
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Giving people facing challenges hope and quality of life, interdisciplinary team approach where each member is vital and acknowledged.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Neuro-rehab, spinal cord injuries.
Vision after completing the fellowship: Integrating best, evidence-based rehabilitation methods/approaches into our rehabilitation center.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Hiking, reading, playing with my toddler.
Dr. Ché Venter
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Current Organization: Life Vincent Pallotti Rehabilitation Unit
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: It is an unexplored and undervalued field of medicine in South Africa and Africa at large. I enjoy working in a team and troubleshooting together and learning from one another. It is also a vast field of medicine requiring you to know a lot about a lot.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Neurological
Vision after completing the fellowship: Pioneer getting the College of Medicine to recognize us as specialists.
Encourage teaching on the management of spinal cord injuries at medical school.
Encourage medical students to work along side allied health care practitioners to properly understand their role within a rehabilitation team.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Trail run, hike, cook, host, dance
Dr. Sfiso Mthimunye
TBD