Cluster Head Profiles

Dr Maria Karsas Diabetes in Children and Adolescents Diabetes Technologies
Qualifications:	MBChB (Pret) 2009, FC Paed (SA) 2016, MMed Paed (UP) 2016, EULAR Diploma in Paediatric Rheumatology 2017, Cert. Paediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism (CMSA) 2019, MPhil Paed Endocrinology & Metabolism (UP) 2020
Position:	Senior lecturer School of Medicine
Research interests:	Paediatric and adolescent diabetes; diabetes and growth; diabetes technology
Notable achievements:	Published 9 articles, published 1 chapter in a textbook, 1 national and 2 international poster presentations, 1 international oral presentation
ORCID:	0000-0002-2991-299X
Contact:	Office: +27 (0) 12 354 5274
Email:	[email protected]

Prof Danie van Zyl Diabetes in Pregnancy Diabetes Management in Hospitals
Qualifications:	MBChB, MMed (Internal Medicine), MSc (Clinical Epidemiology), PhD (Internal Medicine)
Position:	Principal Specialist Physician and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital Head of Clinical Department, Department of Internal Medicine Lecturer in Clinical Epidemiology
Research interests:	Improvement of in- and outpatient diabetes care
Notable achievements:	Structuring the diabetes clinic and pregnancy diabetes clinic at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital
ORCID:	0000-0002-1507-9984
Contact:	Office: +27 (0) 12 373 1075
Email:	[email protected]

Prof Elizabeth Melanie Webb Diabetes Management in Primary Healthcare
Qualifications:	BSc Agric Genetics, BSc Agric Hons Genetics and Biochemistry, Masters in Public Health (cum laude), PhD in Epidemiology
Position:	Associate Professor School of Health Systems and Public Health Faculty of Health Sciences University of Pretoria
Research interests:	Metabolic syndrome researcher with a research focus on primary diabetes care, screening for diabetes complications; vaccine-preventable diseases; health systems epidemiologist focussing on primary health care
Notable achievements:	Screening programme for diabetes complications in Tshwane
ORCID:	0000-0002-9627-3550
Contact:	Office: +27 (0)12 356 3250 Mobile: +27 (0)82 420 3027
Email:	[email protected]

Prof Paola Wood Diabetes Prevention and Health Promotion
Qualifications:	BA(HMS), BA(Hons) (HMS)Biokinetics, MA (HMS) and DPhil (HMS)
Position:	Professor in the Division of Biokinetics and Sport Science Department of Physiology
Research interests:	Biokinetics- which includes the four areas that constitute the scope of biokinetic practice, namely health promotion and disease prevention, chronic disease management, physical selection, and orthopaedic injury
Notable achievements:	Biokinetics Association of South Africa’s Premium Scientific Award (2022) Biokinetics Association of South Africa Academic Advisory Board member Biokinetics Association of South Africa Ethics Committee Rotating Chairperson (2013-2017) UP’s Researcher of the Year Award in the Applied Social Sciences Cluster (2013)
ORCID:	0000-0002-1242-4842
Contact:	Office : +27 (0) 12 420 6046
Email:	[email protected]

Prof Paul Rheeder Director: UP Diabetes Research Centre Diabetes Management in Hospitals
Qualifications:	MMed (Internal Medicine), PhD
Position:	Professor, Department of Internal Medicine Consultant Physician at Steve Biko Academic Hospital
Research interests:	Diabetes management; diabetes complications; cardiovascular disease
Notable achievements:	Awarded a Lilly Global Health Partnership grant in 2018 (5 years) Author or co-author of over 90 peer reviewed scientific publications
ORCID:	0000-0002-1573-4985
Contact:	Mobile: +27 (0) 72 283 7065
Email:	[email protected]

Prof Sumaiya Adam Diabetes in Pregnancy
Qualifications:	MBChB, FCOG (SA), MMed (O&G), Cert Mat Fetal Med (SA), PGCHE, PGDip HPEL, PhD (O&G)
Position:	Associate Professor: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (O&G)
Research interests:	Diabetes in Pregnancy
Notable achievements:	PhD Supervision of doctoral students (1 completed PhD student and 2 current PhD students)
ORCID:	0000-0001-8769-3273
Contact:	Mobile: +27 (0) 84 951 1773
Email:	[email protected]

Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie Senior Programme Manager: UP Diabetes Research Centre
Qualifications:	MD, DTM&H, DipPHM, MPH, PhD candidate
Position:	Programme Manager at the School of Health Systems and Public Health
Research interests:	Diabetes management in primary care; implementation science; health systems strengthening; digital health
Notable achievements:	Chairperson of the Diabetes Alliance; Was involved in the organisation of the Inaugural South African Diabetes Summit; First authored 8 articles as a PhD student
ORCID:	0000-0002-4302-5940
Contact:	Mobile: +27 (0) 79 848 4101
Email:	[email protected]

Dr Owen Eales Diabetes Management in Primary Healthcare
Qualifications:	MBChB, FCFP
Position:	Senior Lecturer, Department of Family Medicine
Research interests:	Diabetes in primary healthcare; shared decision making
Notable achievements:	Teaching and learning award (2022) Established lecturer
ORCID:	0000-0003-2835-8912
Contact:	Mobile: +27 (0) 76 182 9402
Email:	[email protected]

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