On 11 May 2023, the University of Pretoria Faculty of Health Sciences hosted the launch of the biography of a renowned academic, Dr. Bongani Mayosi to celebrate and honor his legacy. The launch was held at the new 21st-century hi-tech Health Sciences Library    

Published by Sifiso Publishers, the book Doctor of Hearts - The Biography of Bongani Mayosi brings together seventy-eight contributors, including family, mentees, friends, and colleagues, to share their journey with Bongani. 

In his welcome address, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Univesity of Pretoria, Professor Tawana Kupe, described Dr. Mayosi as the 'Madiba of Medicine' because of his contribution to medicine in South Africa and the African continent, 'especially in diseases of poverty that affect the heart'.

Prof Kupe hailed Dr. Mayosi's academic and research excellence legacy. "He became the first black person to be the Head of Medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the youngest that UCT had ever had. He is well known for discovering the CDH2 gene mutation causing arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, a tremendous accomplishment that is regarded as one of the greatest medical achievements in South Africa since the first heart transplant", he said. 

"Professor Mayosi's reputation for being a great mentor to many of the continent's most productive clinicians and researchers and structurally transforming access to opportunity and funding in clinical research leading the continent's first pan African clinical trial, the IMPI (Investigation of the Management of Pericarditis), a multinational trial by Africans, led by African Institutes", he said. 

The book's co-author, Dr. Judy Dlamini said the book celebrates a well-lived life, a life which had a multiplier effect on the country and the continent. 

"I have always found it easier to turn negative energy into positive energy. So, on 04 August 2018, after his burial in Cape Town. I thought that people who were not in academia did not know about him. The only thing they will ever read about him is the last few weeks of his life and what happened; he was much more than that. And that is when I asked his family if we could honour and celebrate his life, and the book is about that".  

Panel members spoke of Mayosi as a dedicated, humble leader, scientist, and visionary. In addition, the panel members described him as kind, sensitive, charming, passionate, and compassionate. 

These included his cousin, Nomfundo Mbuli, and Head of the Nuclear Medicine department at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital and Head of the African Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), Professor Mike Sathekge.