Speakers

Dr Shehnaaz Akhalwaya

Dr Shehnaaz trained in paediatrics at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital winning the Robert McDonald award for highest achiever. (2016) She obtained an MMed from UCT as well as a post graduate diploma in Paediatric Nephrology. She sub-specialised in Paediatric Rheumatology at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. She has also spent over 7 years in a world-class neonatal ICU in Cape Town caring for extreme premature babies, and babies with complex medical disorders. She works in both the private and public sector (Red Cross Children’s Hospital) as a consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist. She is a mum to three beautiful, inspiring children. In her spare time she does additional Islamic studies, loves the outdoors, reading and spending time with her family. She is one of the Director of Arthritis Kids SA and a member of Health Care workers for Palestine.

Dr Ebrahim Banderker

Dr Ebrahim Banderker is a Senior Paediatric Consultant Radiologist at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, with special interests in oncology, cardiothoracic, and renal/urological imaging. He is actively involved in teaching and training at undergraduate, postgraduate, and fellowship levels, including supervision for the Master of Medicine at the University of Cape Town and serving as a College of Radiology examiner. Dr Banderker has held leadership roles such as Vice-Chair of the South African Society of Paediatric Imaging (SASPI) and serves as Paediatric Radiology Director for the UCT Diploma of Paediatric Radiology and the African Paediatric Fellowship Program. He is also a member of the Society of Neuro-Oncology for Sub-Saharan Africa (SNOSSA) and the UCT Health Sciences Artificial Intelligence Task Team. An accomplished researcher, Dr Banderker has numerous first-author and co-authored publications and is a regular invitee to national and international radiology congresses.

Prof Paul Brogan (UK)

Professor of vasculitis and honorary consultant paediatric rheumatologist based at University College London Inst of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital. He is director of the Autoinflammation Centre of Excellence at GOSH (GOSH-ACE) and leads a programme of translational research in autoinflammation and vasculitis. He has published more than 220 scientific papers, has co-authored 4 textbooks (4 OUP handbooks), several international book chapters, and has an H index of 71. His group focuses on molecular science, discovery of new monogenetic inflammatory diseases, translational scientific studies, and clinical trials for children with rare inflammatory diseases. He is co-chief investigator of the pan-European KDCAAP trial and has published widely on Kawasaki disease. He has led several international clinical guideline efforts in the fields of autoimmunity and autoinflammation, and several pivotal internation clinical trials in paediatric rheumatology. He is co-chair of the paediatric rheumatology Clinical studies Group (CSG): all proceeds of further editions of the OUP Handbook in Paediatric Rheumatology will be donated to the Arthritis UK CSG.

A/Prof Heloise Buys

Heloise Buys graduated from medical school at the University of Zimbabwe. After a short initiation in paediatrics in Harare, Zimbabwe, she left to train further in paediatrics in the U.K. After 6 years of exposure to paediatrics under the British health system from work mainly in district general hospitals, returned to African soils with the U.K. MRCP and APLS certificates. After a short stint as medical officer in the Ambulatory services at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, she joined the gruelling registrar rotation to complete training as a certified paediatric specialist. Her consultant career was launched at Conradie district hospital where apart from looking after 63 paediatric beds she was also responsible for training Interns, Medical Officers and UCT and visiting Oxford MBChB final year medical students. Following the DOH decision to close Conradie hospital she took up stints at Karl Bremer and New Somerset Hospitals (both then functioning as busy level 2 hospitals) as well as outreach support to Eerste Rivier District hospital. She became a Senior Specialist at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in 2005 and is currently Head of Clinical Unit Ambulatory and Emergency Paediatrics at the Children’s Hospital. Along with 2 other consultants she oversees a busy unit with 35 000 patients triaged and 7-10 000 seen in the Resuscitation room per annum, a short stay ward with high turnover and a well-used outpatient unit. The whole Unit serves a large part of the Metropolitan area of Cape Town and there are plans for expansion and developing a modern paediatric emergency centre. The Unit has responsibility for Under-graduate and Post-graduate training. Part of the Vision is to maintain a Paediatric Emergency Unit of excellence.

Dr Subarna Chakravorty (UK)

Subarna is a Paediatric Haematologist with an interest in non-malignant blood disorders of childhood, including sickle cell and thalassaemia, rare anaemia and bone marrow failure syndromes. Since 2021, she has been involved in bone marrow transplantation in adults with sickle cell disease at King’s College Hospital. Subarna is currently serving as the National Specialty Adviser and chair of the Clinical Reference Group for Haemoglobinopathy in NHS England. She is also the clinical lead for the Sickle Cell Collaborative project in King’s Health Partner’s Haematology. She led the UK Haemoglobinopathy Peer Reviews from 2018-2020. Subarna was an elected trustee of the British Society for Haematology from 2020-2025 and is currently serving as trustee of the charity UK Forum on Haemoglobin Disorders. Subarna is interested in clinical and molecular research in sickle cell disease and regularly publishes on these topics.

Dr Ashton Coetzee

Ashton Coetzee (MbChb (UCT), FcPaeds (SA), MMED (Stell), Cert Paed Nephrology (SA)) is a Paediatric Nephrologist based at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town. He provides comprehensive care for children with kidney conditions, spanning both inpatient and outpatient services. His clinical work includes managing acute and chronic dialysis, as well as contributing to the hospital’s paediatric kidney transplantation programme. He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town, where he is involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. Dr Coetzee is a strong advocate for the holistic care of children with kidney disease, emphasizing the importance of integrated, child-centred approaches across all levels of healthcare.

Prof Alan Davidson

Professor Alan Davidson is the head of the Paediatric Haematology-Oncology Service at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and the University of Cape Town. His clinical and research interests include paediatric brain tumours, HIV-related cancers, genetic predisposition syndromes, stem cell transplantation for primary immunodeficiency, and adapted therapy guidelines for low- and middle-income country settings. He is a committed educationalist at specialist and sub-specialist level and has served as president of the College of Paediatrics of South Africa, as well as on the board of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. He was a founding member of the South African Stem Cell Transplantation Society and is a former chair of the South African Association of Paediatric Haematology Oncology. Davidson co-chairs the South African Paediatric Brain Tumour Workshop and serves as the president of the Society for Neuro-Oncology Sub-Saharan Africa. He has served the International Society of Paediatric Oncology as chair of the Global Health Network and the Advocacy Committee and is now the treasurer, serving on the board of directors. He also serves on the executive committee of the board of trustees of the Children’s Hospital Trust.

Dr Helder De Quintal

Dr. Helder De Quintal is a distinguished Paediatric Haematologist and Oncologist currently serving at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. He completed his undergraduate degree MBBCH at the University of Witwatersrand and furthered his education with a Diploma in Child Health DCH (SA) and a postgraduate degree FCPAED (SA) from the University of Cape Town. Dr. De Quintal's career includes a fellowship in paediatric intensive care at the prestigious Harley Street Clinic in London, where he was promoted to Senior Management and served as Clinical Lead for Paediatric Services. During his tenure, he developed a keen interest in Paediatric Oncology and played a pivotal role in establishing a paediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant service at the clinic. His passion for bone marrow transplantation led him to pursue an 18-month fellowship in Paediatric Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at the Royal Marsden Hospital in the NHS. Upon returning to South Africa, Dr. De Quintal completed his subspecialist training in Paediatric Oncology, obtaining CMO(PAED) SA through the University of Cape Town. Dr. De Quintal's experience in both South Africa and the United Kingdom, along with his clinical and managerial skills in both private and public healthcare sectors, places him in a unique position to provide balanced healthcare provision across all sectors locally. He continues to promote innovation and advancement in healthcare in South Africa, impacting the lives of many children through his work at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.

A/Prof Nico Enslin

Nico Enslin is a paediatric neurosurgeon with a special interest in functional neurosurgery and epilepsy surgery. He is an associate professor at University of Cape Town and does part – time functional neurosurgery in private sector as well in Cape Town. His main research interest is spasticity-surgery and he is involved with the various research ventures of the Red Cross Hospital Neurosurgery division. He is the continental-president for the World-Society of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery and chairman of the surgical therapies commission of ILAE. Nico is the chair on the education committee of the Society of Neurosurgery of SA. He qualified as a physiotherapist before doing medicine and uses this background in diagnosis and managing movement disorder patients with neuromodulation- and lesioning-techniques.

Dr Lyndal Gibbs

Dr Lyndal Gibbs is a Paediatric Critical Care Fellow (MBBCh(Wits), DCH(SA), MMed(Paeds)(UCT), FCPaed(SA), Dip Pal Med(Paeds)(UCT)). Lyndal qualified as a paediatrician in 2017 and did her postgraduate diploma in paediatric palliative care through UCT in 2018. She worked for Paedspal for the past 7 years, heading up the hospital-based and private practice services, as well as lecturing undergraduate and postgraduate students at UCT. Lyndal is proud to be a nerd, and is completing a Masters in Bioethics and Health Law through Wits University. She is passionate about integrating palliative care into daily practice, and is currently doing a Fellowship in paediatric critical care at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. She is a firm believer in the power of compassion, coffee and glitter.

Dr Yasmin Goga

Dr Yasmin Goga is a paediatric clinical haematologist. She obtained her MBBCH from the University of Witwatersrand, and then completed her FCPaeds (CMSA). She has additional training in ethics, palliative care and public health. She is currently based at Greys Hospital, Pietermaritzberg, and has previously worked in the paediatric haematology oncology unit at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, and the Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Centre at King Edward Hospital, Durban, South Africa from 2003 - 2022. Her areas of interest include the leukaemia’s and lymphomas, aplastic anaemia, haemolytic disorders including thalassaemia and haemophilia. She is involved in the South African Haemophilia Guidelines, the SA Haemophilia registry, national and provincial palliative care guidelines as well as the paediatric Hodgkins disease national protocol. She is the current chair of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee for Haemophilia. She has been supportive of efforts to improve patient advocacy, education and empowerment and children’s rights.

A/Prof Marc Hendricks

Marc Hendricks is a paediatric oncologist at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and an associate professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa. The focus of his academic profile is childhood cancer, specifically malignant extracranial germ cell (MECGTs) and sex cord stromal tumours (SCSTs). As a recipient of the prestigious Professor Bongani Mayosi Netcare Clinical Scholarship in 2020, Marc was awarded his PhD (UCT) in 2024 for the development, implementation and prospective evaluation of the first national treatment guideline for children with MEGCTs and SCSTs (MEGCT-2016). He is the clinical lead for the MECGT-2016 project and the African Germ Cell Tumour Working Group which is expanding germ cell tumour research into Africa. Marc is the first African clinical researcher to be invited to become a member of the Malignant Germ Cell Tumour International Consortium (MaGIC), a testament to the strength of his work in this field. He is the current vice chairperson of the South African Association of Paediatric Haematology Oncology (SAAPHO) and lead of the National Child and Adolescent Blood and Cancer Research Platform (SEARCH - South African Excellence and Advancement in Research in Childhood Haematology- Oncology). Marc is also a musician and continues to explore intersections between oncology and music as a teacher and content creator for the inter-faculty Critical Health Humanities Master’s programme at UCT.

Dr Tamara Kerbelker

Tamara Kerbelker is a paediatrician based in the Division of Ambulatory and Emergency Paediatrics at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town. She brings a broad range of clinical and leadership experience in child health, with a particular interest in improving healthcare delivery through education. Tamara is passionate about teaching paediatrics to healthcare professionals across all levels, ensuring that learning is tailored, accessible, and clinically relevant.

Dr Michelle Meiring

Dr Michelle Meiring is a Palliative Care Paediatrician who has worked in this field for 20 years. She is the founder and CEO of Paedspal and works 20 hours a week for the organisation. Michelle’s other job is to convene the Post-Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Palliative Care at the University of Cape Town. She is an accomplished speaker and has presented at several local and international conferences. She was also one of four editors of the latest edition of the Oxford Textbook on Palliative Care for Children. A long-standing child health and palliative care advocate since her “Paeds HIV-days”, Michelle chairs the national network for Children’s Palliative care known as PatchSA and has been involved at provincial and national levels in policy making in palliative care in South Africa.

Dr Shirani Naidoo

Dr Shirani Naidoo is a Paediatric Consultant in the Division of Emergency and Ambulatory Paediatrics at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, where she has served since 2012. She completed her specialist and subspecialist training in Paediatric Allergy at Red Cross and subsequently spent five years in private practice. Her clinical expertise spans Ambulatory and Emergency Paediatrics, and in 2024 she was formally registered as a Paediatric Emergency Specialist. Dr Naidoo is passionate about ongoing medical education and is an active part of the Postgraduate Teaching Committee and is an examiner across several CMSA portfolio’s. She actively contributes to mentorship programs and faculty development initiatives. Her professional interests include paediatric emergency care, allergy, and improving systems for acute care delivery.

Dr Tracey Nupen

Dr Tracey Nupen is a Paediatrician with a postgraduate diploma in Paediatric Palliative Medicine from UCT. She has a decade of experience in this field and advocates strongly for the integration of the palliative care approach at all healthcare levels. She works in the multidisciplinary clinic at Paedspal, a non-profit organisation caring holistically for children with significant health-related symptoms. Tracey lectures and examines for the UCT Postgraduate Diploma of Palliative Medicine.

Dr Larko D Owusu (Ghana)

Dr Larko D Owusu is a fellow of the Ghana college of physicians and surgeons and a member of the west African college of Physicians. She also holds a PG diploma in clinical emergency paediatrics from the University of Capetown. She has fourteen years experience working in the emergency department. She is a trainer in Paediatric Emergency and Critical care with the Ghana college of physicians and surgeons. She's an adjunct lecturer at the department of paediatrics with the College of Health Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology. She is also and adjunct lecturer with the paediatric department of the Ghana college of nurses and midwives. She has keen interest in sepsis,paediatric resuscitation, paediatric pain assessment management , simulation based training. She is involved in a number of researches in paediatrics. She loves to read and tour.

A/Prof Shamiel Salie

Shamiel Salie has been a PICU Consultant at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital since 2006 and was appointed as the PICU Medical Director in 2020. He has varied interests, the main ones being infectious diseases, the provision of respiratory support and the management of children post cardiac surgery. He is actively involved in education and the of training junior doctors and nurses. He is the Director of the Advanced Paediatric Life Support course in South Africa and a Co-ordinator of the Paediatric Basic Assessment and Support in ICU course.

Prof Indumathy Santhanam (India)

Prof Indumathy Santhanam is the Project Coordinator at the Regional Collaborative Center – National Health Mission and leads the Pediatric Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine Simulation Laboratory at the Institute of Child Health, Madras Medical College. She serves as a state trainer for PREM (Pediatric Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine) in Tamil Nadu and has established and mentors PREM units across 116 hospitals, including sub-district, DHQ, Taluk, and medical college facilities. Prof Santhanam is the Editor-in-Chief of PREM for Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Pediatric Emergency Medicine – India. She also chairs the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Special Interest Group within the Society of Emergency Medicine India. Her contributions to pediatric emergency medicine have been recognised with the Best Doctor Award from MGR Medical University in 2011 and the Best Doctor Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2019.

Dr Waheba Slamang

Dr Waheba Slamang (MBChB (UCT) FCPaed (SA) PG Dip Paediatric Rheumatology (Cum Laude) Certificate Paediatric Rheumatology (SA) MPhil Paediatric Rheumatology (UCT) Cum Laude) is a paediatric rheumatologist based in Cape Town, South Africa. She works with Tin Soldiers Global, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving care for children with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) and other musculoskeletal conditions. Her current work focuses on education and capacity-building to strengthen care networks for children with musculoskeletal conditions. Dr Slamang contributes to several global initiatives and publications that advance equitable access to medicines for paediatric rheumatology, including updates to the World Health Organization and National Essential Medicines Lists. She is a key member of the Global Paediatric Musculoskeletal Task Force, and actively supports the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society, and the Paediatric society of the African League Against Rheumatism. A committed advocate for patients and their families, Dr Slamang remains inspired by the unwavering support of her family, their rescue dog and cat.

Dr Mari Stevens

Mari Stevens is a registered Music Therapist (MA Music Therapy) from Cape Town. A diverse private therapy practice and NGO involvement offers her extensive experience in working with complex trauma, psychiatry, and special needs, working with both adult and Paediatric clients. With a post graduate diploma in Paediatric palliative medicine, Mari has been part of the psychotherapy team at Paedspal, since 2021. Along with the privilege of direct client work, Mari enjoys collaborating with other practitioners in teaching, presenting, and advocating around palliative care, mental health and psychotherapy service and have presented on both local and international platforms. Besides enjoying family life with her husband and two busy boys, Mari is a performing cellist, music teacher and fitness enthusiast.

Dr Krishna Thottekkat

Dr Krishna Thottekkat is a Palliative Care Paediatrician who provides specialist care to children at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and through Paedspal’s private service. She completed her MBChB at the University of Pretoria, earned her Diploma in Child Health (DCH) while working in KwaZulu-Natal, and later obtained her FCPaed (SA) and MMed from the University of the Free State. She is committed to strong patient advocacy and sees paediatrics as a place where she can champion the needs of children. Palliative care allows her to extend that advocacy further by protecting the dignity and humanity of patients in complex situations.

Prof Aneesa Vanker

Professor Vanker (MBCHB (UKZN), FCPaed (CMSA), MMed (SU), CertPulm Paed (CMSA), PhD (UCT)) is a paediatric pulmonologist at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Town, South Africa, where she is involved in the care of children with a wide range of both congenital and acquired respiratory conditions. She completed her paediatric pulmonology training at Tygerberg Children’s Hospital and Stellenbosch University in 2010. She is also a clinical researcher with a particular interest in the environmental determinants of childhood lung diseases, which was the subject of her PhD entitled “Indoor air pollution and environmental tobacco smoke exposure in a South African birth cohort study” and continues working in this field. Prof Vanker is vice-president of the South African Thoracic Society, board member of the Indian Ocean Pulmonology Society (SPOI) and a member of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) Environmental Committee. She also serves on the South African National Department of Health Air Quality and Health Focus Group and the National Environmental Consultative and Advisory (NECA) 3A forum, an air quality advisory committee to the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

A/Prof Kate Webb

Prof Kate Webb (MBChB, PhD) is a clinician–scientist and Head of the Paediatric Rheumatology Division at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She leads one of the only fully integrated paediatric rheumatology clinical and research programmes in Africa, focusing on Kawasaki Disease, childhood lupus, and other rare immune-mediated diseases. Her group combines advanced immunology techniques with clinical cohorts to uncover mechanisms of inflammation in African children. Professor Webb is also deeply committed to developing local research capacity, mentoring the next generation of clinician–scientists, and building equitable global collaborations in child health research.