Nobuhle Vanessa Gxekwa, a fifth-year medical student at the University of Pretoria (UP), has been honoured with the Rising Star Award at the South African Health Excellence Awards. This prestigious accolade celebrates individuals who have demonstrated excellence in healthcare, particularly those who have made significant contributions to research, teaching and the advancement of medicine in South Africa.

The Rising Star Award is reserved for medical students who have distinguished themselves academically and have made impactful contributions to society. Gxekwa stood out for her exceptional efforts in research capacity building initiatives for undergraduate students with UP’s Faculty of Health Sciences and her noteworthy contributions to clinical science in South Africa.  

Expressing her gratitude, Gxekwa remarked, ‘I feel so honoured and humbled to be recognised as a rising star amongst the dozens of brilliant minds in medicine and research in the country. This recognition motivates and inspires me to work even harder towards fulfilling my dream of becoming a clinician scientist and making a positive societal impact through medicine and research. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my family and mentors for their continuous support, guidance and unwavering belief in me.”

Nobuhle Venessa Gxekwa shines as the reciepient of the Rising Star Award at the South African Health Excellence.

Professor Salome Maswime, President of the South African Clinician Scientists Society and Head of Global Surgery at the University of Cape Town, praised Gxekwa’s accomplishments, stating, “We are immensely proud of Vanessa as a recipient of one of the Rising Star awards. Her outstanding commitment and contribution as an undergraduate student speak to our vision to develop a pipeline and the next generation of clinician scientists. We congratulate her for standing out among her peers nationally and congratulate her for all her achievements.”

Further acknowledging Gxekwa’s impact, Professor Tivani Mashamba-Thompson, Deputy Dean Research and Postgraduate Studies at the Faculty of Health Sciences UP, stated, “Vanessa is the youngest member of our Faculty Research Committee and has served as the representative for the Tuks Undergraduate Research Forum (TURF) as a student lead. She is a valuable member of the committee and we are very proud of her achievement in recognition of her contribution to the faculty’s undergraduate research.”

In addition to her roles as a member of the Faculty Research Committee and TURF lead, Gxekwa has played a crucial role in the implementation of the undergraduate research method course currently piloting in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her involvement in the development of the course and recruitment of students into the course underscores her dedication to fostering a culture of research excellence within the academic community.