Member: Prof Ronel Maart
Institution: University of the Western Cape
Prof Ronel Maart University of the Western Cape Ronel Maart serves as the Deputy Dean Learning & Teaching at the Faculty of Dentistry, University of the Western Cape. She holds an MPhil and PhD, with expertise in Health Professions Education. In the Dentistry Faculty she drives Health Professions Education and her expertise include curriculum development, competency -based education and assessment. She serves as a Medical and Dental Board member(HPCSA) and active in national/international networks. This includes: SAFRI fellowship (Southern African FAIMER Regional Institute), board member of AHPEL (Association for Health Professions Education and Leadership and module coordinator for Foundation of Professional Development (FPD) Post Graduate Diploma in Health Professions Education. On an international level, she is affiliated with the Association of Dental European Education (ADEE), International Association of Dental Research (IADR), AFREHealth as facilitator of Postgraduate Pedagogical Course and curriculum developer of the Masters in Human Resources for Health Leadership. She completed USAF- Woman in leadership course and Future Professors Programme. Her academic contributions include presentations at national and international conferences, as well as publications in journals worldwide. |
Member: Lizel Hudson
Institution: Cape Peninsula University
Member: Dr Danelle Hess
Institution: University of the Western Cape
Dr Danelle Hess University of the Western CapeDr. Danelle Hess is the Learning & Teaching Specialist for the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of the Western Cape. A physiotherapist by training, she holds a PhD in Physiotherapy with a focus on Health Professions Education (HPE). For her doctoral research she developed design principles to foster clinical reasoning in undergraduate students. Danelle is a 2015 SAFRI Fellow and a recipient of the Faculty Emerging Excellent Lecturer Award, recognized for her contributions to pedagogical innovation. Her research area encompasses curriculum mapping, faculty development, and evidence-based practice. Danelle can be contacted on: dhess@uwc.ac.za ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0350-5122
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Member: Dr Lisa Graham *
Institution: Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Dr. Lisa Graham is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at CPUT. She lectures in the extended curriculum programme and conducts research in the fields of Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Cell Biology. In 2019, she was recognized by the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences with an Excellent Teacher award for her innovative teaching practices and language initiatives
*Drafted from institutional profiles on the internet.
Member: Dr Amaal Abrahams
Institution: University of Cape Town
Dr Amaal Abrahams University of Cape Town I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Human Biology and a Teaching Advancements at Universities (TAU) Fellow. I completed my PhD in Medical Biochemistry at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2007 and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professions Education in 2015. My research focuses on Health Professions Education, particularly anatomy and physiology learning, and students’ transition into higher education. A key part of my work involves the development, validation, and longitudinal evaluation of baseline competency assessments to identify students at academic risk early in their studies. This work has demonstrated the predictive value of foundational knowledge assessments and has informed targeted academic support strategies across the MBChB, Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy programmes. My ongoing research examines patterns of knowledge retention across the preclinical years and seeks to generate data-informed insights that strengthens curriculum design and student support interventions. In addition, I am involved in investigating the effectiveness of structured peer mentorship and peer tutorial programmes aimed at enhancing academic confidence, professional identity formation, and psychosocial well-being. In recognition of my teaching contributions, I received the Faculty of Health Sciences’ Excellence in Teaching Award, and my work has been presented both nationally and internationally. |
Mrs Sharazaad Hassan-Yengopal* University of the Western Cape Sharazaad Hassan-Yengopal is a Lecturer in the Department of Oral Hygiene at the University of the Western Cape. A PhD candidate, her current research focuses on developing a framework that utilizes Virtual Reality and Haptics as adjuncts in preclinical dental education. *Drafted from institutional profiles on the internet. |
Prof Simone Titus-Dawson Stellenbosch University Simone Titus-Dawson is an Associate Professor in Health Professions Education at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. She holds a PhD in Education, with expertise in technology-enhanced learning and educational transformation. Her research aligns with SDGs 3 and 4 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, focusing on inclusive, contextually relevant learning through game-based learning, GenAI, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). A recipient of the Black Academic Advancement Programme award, she contributed to the EU-funded “Caring Societies” project and serves on the WHO-Africa Curriculum Development Advisory Group. With a background spanning health sciences, gender studies, management, and health education, Simone is committed to advancing equitable, digitally fluent health professions education. Simone may be contacted on: titusdawsons@sun.ac.za ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3599-891 |
Dr Rhoda Meyer Stellenbosch University Dr. Rhoda Meyer is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health Professions Education (DHPE) at Stellenbosch University. With her foundation as an operating room nurse, she brings rich clinical experience from diverse local and international healthcare settings to her academic role. As the Faculty Development Lead at the DHPE, Dr. Meyer plays a role in shaping the professional growth of health professions educators. She contributes to the academic community through her teaching on the MPhil in Health Professions Education (HPE) programme and supervision of both MPhil and PhD students. Dr. Meyer’s journey in academia was preceded by several years as a clinical teacher, which informed her decision to pursue further studies in the field of Health Professions Education. Her academic credentials include an MPhil and PhD in Health Professions Education. Her research portfolio encompasses several areas, including clinical teaching, learning and assessment, curriculum development, faculty development, educational leadership, and the optimisation of learning environments. She has a strong interest in advancing social accountability within the faculty, having led various initiatives in the DHPE in recent years. In recognition of her contributions to teaching and educational innovation, Dr. Meyer was awarded the Stellenbosch University Scholarly Teaching Award in 2024. In addition, she was awarded the Stellenbosch University Teaching Fellowship in 2025, providing an opportunity to undertake further research in the field. |
Dr Lynelle Govender* University of Cape Town Dr. Lynelle Govender is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town. She holds an MPhil in Health Professions Education (HPE) from Stellenbosch University and is currently pursuing her PhD in the same field. Her academic work is centered on advancing excellence within health professions education. *Drafted from institutional profiles on the internet. |
Prof Elize Archer Stellenbosch University |
Prof Francois Cillers University of Cape Town |