Speakers
Prof. John Akudugu
Prof. John Akudugu is a full professor of Radiobiology and head of the Division of Radiobiology at Stellenbosch University. His research interests include internal-/macro-/micro-dosimetry, targeted cancer therapy, modelling of tumour and normal tissue responses to therapy, radiation sensitisers and protectors, and cancer biomarkers.
His research has resulted in 57 peer-reviewed publications in a wide range of international journals, over 90 conference contributions, and 3 patents, with 539 citations (h-index: 14). He has trained 26 postgraduate students and clinical fellows. He is an NRF C1-rated researcher and serves as both a grant reviewer and a member of the grants review panel.
He is also a grants reviewer for the Cancer Association of South Africa. In addition to Faculty commitments and evaluation of numerous postgraduate dissertations, his scientific assignments include manuscript review for more than 10 international journals (e.g. the International Journal of Radiation Biology, Radiation Research, the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Anti-Cancer Drugs and Cell Proliferation). He has also served as an editorial board member of the Journal of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics and on several IAEA expert missions.
Dr. Julia Ambler
Dr. Julia Ambler has been working in paediatric palliative care for the last 20 years, first in Oxford, UK, where she completed her diploma and then in Durban since 2009.
She co-founded Umduduzi – Hospice Care for Children in 2013. She is currently the only doctor that is paid for paediatric palliative care in South Africa, working 10 hours a week at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. She is a sessional lecturer in the Departments of Paediatrics and Family Medicine, Nelson Mandela Medical School, University of KwaZulu-Natal and is the chairperson of The Association of Palliative Care Practitioners of South Africa (PALPRAC). As a communication skills expert, she is also a workshop facilitator for the Medical Protection Society.
Dr. Ambler lives in Morningside with her partner, Tracey and two sons, Luke and Jack.
Prof. Laila Asmal
Prof. Laila Asmal is an Associate Professor and Neuropsychiatrist at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa. Her PhD in Psychiatry examined brain imaging in schizophrenia, and she holds an MSc in Clinical Epidemiology. Prof. Asmal directed clinical neuropsychiatry services at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town from 2010-2020 before taking on a fulltime academic position in psychosis research and neuropsychiatry training at the University.
Prof. Dale Bailey
Prof. Dale Bailey (PhD FACPSEM FIPEM MRCP (Lond.) CSci (UK)) is a nuclear medicine physicist who has had a career-long focus on quantification in emission tomographic imaging using both SPECT and PET. He has published in excess of 185 peer-reviewed articles, predominantly on the theme of developing accurate in vivo measurements in nuclear medicine imaging, and has edited 4 textbooks.
Prof. Bailey is the Principal Medical Physics Specialist in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney and is a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. Until recently he held the role of Director of Sydney Vital, the Northern Translational Cancer Research Centre of the Cancer Institute NSW, where he led the Sydney Vital flagship programme entitled Translational Theranostics.
Prof. Bailey has developed methodology and protocols to measure tumour dosimetry from SPECT-based therapy imaging which led him to create a radiobiology laboratory to study cellular effects of alpha and beta radiation in vitro. He is a Past President of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM), having served from 2016 to 2018.
Prof. Bailey has developed methodology and protocols to measure tumour dosimetry from SPECT-based therapy imaging which led him to create a radiobiology laboratory to study cellular effects of alpha and beta radiation in vitro. He is a Past President of the Australia and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM), having served from 2016 to 2018.
Prof. Thomas Beyer
Prof. Thomas Beyer is a physicist by training (University of Leipzig, Germany) with post-doc degrees from the University of Surrey, UK and the University of Essen, Germany. Since 2013 he has been Full Professor of Physics of Medical Imaging at the Medical University in Vienna, Austria. He also holds an MBA degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from WU. Throughout his career, Prof. Beyer has worked in both academia and industry appointments throughout the world thereby promoting hybrid molecular imaging in clinical research and key clinical applications. His interests are in developing innovative strategies for image-guided patient management using hybrid imaging techniques and AI.
Dr. Anita Brink
Dr. Anita Brink obtained her MBChB degree from the University of Pretoria in 1999. She qualified as a Nuclear Physician in 2007. In 2010, she was awarded her Masters in Nuclear Medicine with a distinction for the dissertation. In 2020 she was awarded a PhD in Nuclear Medicine.
From 2009 until 2023, she served as the Operational Head of the Nuclear Medicine department at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Currently, she holds a position as a Nuclear Medicine Physician in the Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Dr. Brink has published a number of articles in the field of Paediatric Nuclear Medicine, primarily focused on renography. She has also contributed chapters to books on this field. Her main field of interest is enhancing Member States’ capability to address health needs through the use of Nuclear Medicine techniques in both imaging and therapeutic applications.
Prof. John Buscombe
Prof. John Buscombe (MBBS, MSc, MD, FRCP, FRCPEdin, FRCR, FEBNM) trained in nuclear medicine in London before working in London and Cambridge. Since 2010 he has been an extra-ordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria and since 2020 has been working at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He has a long–term interest in theranostics and has published 250 peer reviewed papers and 8 books.
Prof. Irène Buvat
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Prof. Irène Buvat, PhD, is a senior researcher at CNRS and Head of the Inserm Laboratory of Translational Imaging in Oncology, Institut Curie, Orsay, France. She obtained her PhD degree in “Nuclear and Particle Physics” from Paris Sud University, France in 1992 and focussed her research on applications of nuclear physics to medical imaging. After spending a year at University College London, UK, and 2 years at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA, she entered the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in 1995.
She is currently the head of the Laboratory of Translational Imaging in Oncology at Institut Curie in Orsay, France. Her research interests focus on the development of quantification methods to make the most of SPECT and PET data coupled with CT or MRI to understand biological mechanisms and optimise patient management. She was one of the initiators of the collaboration developing the GATE Monte Carlo opensource simulation tool for tomography and radiotherapy applications. She is highly involved in radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) research to enhance the role of PET/CT and PET/MR in precision medicine. Her lab has developed the user-friendly LIFEx software to facilitate reproducible radiomic studies. She promotes open access to state-of-the-art research material (GATE, LIFEx) and resource sharing to accelerate the development and validation of AI-based methods. She is a member of the SNMMI AI task force and an Associate Editor of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
Prof. Sharmila Dorbala
Prof. Sharmila Dorbala (MD, MPH) is the Director of Nuclear Cardiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School. As a cardiovascular imaging specialist, she practices cardiac SPECT, PET, and echocardiography. Her research is focussed on molecular imaging of cardiac amyloidosis. Prof. Dorbala is a Past President of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and of the Cardiovascular Council of the SNMMI.
Prof. Dorbala is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology and a past Associate Editor of Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging. She has authored or co-authored more than 250 articles, abstracts, and presentations. She is passionate about teaching nuclear cardiology and has given more than 200 presentations at facilities and medical society meetings regionally, nationally, and internationally. She serves as a principal investigator for several clinical research studies in cardiac amyloidosis with research funding from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association, as well as foundation, philanthropic, and industry grants.
Ms. Samantha Du Plessis
Ms. Samantha Du Plessis is an experienced and enthusiastic radiopharmacist who has been working in the nuclear medicine industry for more than 12 years. She has worked in various sections within this sector, affording her skills in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing and compounding, management, business development, pharmaceutical sales, and strategy development and execution.
Ms. Du Plessis is Programme Manager at NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd., primarily responsible for developing a turnaround strategy for the radiopharmaceutical business. She is actively involved in the development and execution of the growth strategy for NTP Group companies.
She has been a consultant Lecturer at Sefako Makgatho University for MSc Radiopharmacy students, has peer reviewed 2 articles for nuclear medicine journals, and has been co-supervisor for several MSc students.
Ms. Du Plessis has a keen interest in targeted therapy in the nuclear medicine field and has been a key player in the market development for these products. She is the Secretary of the Women in Nuclear of South Africa Chapter (WiNSA), where she hopes to increase awareness of the safe use of, and enormous benefits that, nuclear products can provide in our society, in order to promote the accessibility and availability of radiopharmaceuticals across our continent.
Dr. Hanlie Du Raan
Dr. Hanlie Du Raan is a medical physicist and has worked for more than 30 years in the field of nuclear medicine. She graduated with a PhD in Medical Physics in 1998 from the University of the Free State (UFS). As clinical medical physicist she spent time in the nuclear medicine department at Universitas Hospital. After completing her Master’s degree in 1993, she worked as medical physicist for a year at a clinical nuclear medicine department in Genk, Belgium. Her research interest developed during her PhD years in quantitative aspects of nuclear medicine imaging. After resigning from the medical physics department in 2010 she worked as consulting medical physicist in the private arena but kept her academic interest and continued to supervise (and co-supervise) Master’s and Doctorate students. In 2018, Dr. Du Raan returned to the UFS medical physics department where she is involved in physics research in nuclear medicine. Her research focus is quantitative imaging, internal dosimetry, and radiation safety in the nuclear medicine environment.
Prof. Thomas Ebenhan
Prof. Thomas Ebenhan is a trained biochemist and pharmacologist from the University of Tübingen, Germany. Following a 4-year corporate residence at Novartis Pharma AG, Switzerland, he relocated to South Africa for what is now a 12-year research tenure in applied medical and biological sciences. He holds an Associate Professorship at the University of Pretoria, is managing a preclinical molecular imaging laboratory, and is involved in the development of a unique nuclear medicine research infrastructure development for South Africa. He completes duties as principal investigator, as scientific advisor/expert, or as student supervisor on multi-institutional, multi-scientific projects, mostly in biomedical or natural sciences.
Prof. Marcus Hacker
Prof. Marcus Hacker completed his medical studies at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and University of Munich, Germany. Since 2007 he has been Head of Cardiovascular Imaging and Research Unit, Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Munich and since 2008 he has been Assistant Professor Nuclear Medicine, Thesis: “Combined morphological and functional imaging of coronary artery disease”.
Since 2013 he has been Full Professor for Nuclear Medicine and Director, Division of Nuclear Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna and Deputy Chair of the Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna. Since 2019 he has been Visiting Professor, Medical Faculty, University of Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Visiting Professor, University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia.
Dr. Nerisha Govender
Dr. Nerisha Govender embodies the fusion of nuclear medicine expertise with a fervent drive for social justice. With an extensive clinical background in internal medicine and infectious disease, she extends her skills to the underserved region of the Eastern Cape, championing equitable healthcare access. She is a recipient of the Hyman-Ghesani RAD-AID SNMMI Global Health Scholarship, effecting outreach efforts in Tanzania. During the COVID pandemic, she secured first place in the Siemens Innovation Think Tank Programme for designing a smart application that uses geospatial cellular technology to efficiently distribute health services in inaccessible rural areas. Through medical community engagement, outreach initiatives, and advocacy, Dr. Govender seeks to redefine the image of nuclear medicine as an accessible tool, trying to ensure that quality care reaches all, regardless of the persistent maldistribution of services.
Prof. Francis Hasford
Prof. Francis Hasford is an Associate Professor of Medical Physics from the University of Ghana, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences. He is the Director of the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute (RAMSRI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, the Vice-President for Federation of African Medical Physics Organizations (FAMPO), and the Vice-President for Ghana Society for Medical Physics (GSMP). He is a member of the Executive Committee of the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP), serving as the Chair of the Publications Committee.
Prof. Hasford also serves as the Project Scientific Consultant for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regional project on Medical Imaging Physics. He has supervised more than 30 postgraduate student theses and is a contributor for over 70 peer-reviewed published articles and book chapters. His research interest is in medical imaging and has delivered talks at several conferences and workshops around the world.
Prof. Michael Hofman
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Prof. Michael Hofman is a nuclear medicine physician at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia’s only public hospital dedicated to cancer treatment, research, and education. He has a co-appointment at the University of Melbourne and previously completed a fellowship at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Prof. Hofman is Director of the Prostate Cancer Theranostics and Imaging Centre of Excellence (ProsTIC) at Peter Mac. His research is focussed on novel radionuclides for imaging and therapy, including pre-clinical, and phase 1 to 3 clinical trials. He led landmark clinical trials of PSMA imaging and therapy including the ProPSMA (Lancet ‘20, ACTA Trial of the Year) and TheraP (Lancet ‘21). He has authored or co-authored more than 220 peer-reviewed articles and is an inaugural scientific member of the Australasian Radiopharmaceutical Trials Network (ARTnet). He is an editor for several international journals including Journal of Nuclear Medicine, European Urology, and Cancer Imaging.
Ms. Jean Hung
Ms. Jean Hung is a senior MI application specialist with Siemens Healthineers at the company’s Asia Pacific headquarters. She has 20 years of experience working in molecular imaging and handling different systems including clinical systems SPECT, SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and MR/PET and preclinical systems microPET, microPET/CT, and microSPECT/PET/CT.
As a regional application specialist, Ms. Hung needs to support different countries and assists the customers to set up the clinical examination protocols. Solving customers’ technical issues and troubleshooting problems is her duty. Sometimes, she is invited for research discussions and to create special workflows to fulfil the customers’ needs.
Ms. Hung is also a team lead of MR and MI in the education department, responsible for the education service in MR and MI for the internal customers and external customers including application and engineer training.
Mr. Mark Jassen
Mr. Mark Jassen qualified as a Nuclear Medicine Radiographer 2009 after completing his community service at Groote Schuur hospital. Then He joined the field of pediatric nuclear medicine at Red Cross children’s hospital in 2010. Over the course of his time at Red Cross Children’s Hospital he has juggled a few titles mainly pediatric nuclear medicine radiographer and Venus-NMIS + HERMES medical system administrator, being the responsible person for the in-house database ensuring that all patient data is correct.
He was elected as Secretary/Treasurer of South African Society of Nuclear Medicine (SASNM) at the biannual meeting of the 2021 Virtual Congress. During this period membership renewal was his sole project this included the start of the online renewal process allowing members to renew their membership online. He is also responsible for the day-to-day finances of the society, in conjunction with previous administrator he has handled 2 successful audits for the society and ensuring that the society maintains a good financial status all year around.
Prof. Carlos David Libhaber
Prof. Carlos David Libhaber graduated from the Medical School at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, qualified as a Specialist Cardiologist in 1984, and obtained his Fellowship of the College of Nuclear Physicians in Johannesburg, South Africa. He worked until 2001 at the Division of Cardiology at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. He trained at the Division of Nuclear Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he was a Specialist Nuclear Physician and Clinical Head at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. He is a member of numerous international professional bodies, was the Scientific Chairman of the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology until 2010, and is presently a member of the International Advisory Board of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.
Prof. Libhaber was awarded his PhD degree in Physiology from the University of the Witwatersrand and Associate Professor of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and appointed Honorary Professor at the School of Physiology at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2019. Has published extensively in the field of cardiology and cardiovascular physiology and has frequently been invited lecturer and chairperson in local and international meetings and conferences.
Dr. Jannie Le Roux
Dr. Jannie Le Roux is a registered specialist radiopharmacist with the South African Pharmacy Council.
He obtained his PhD from Stellenbosch University where his research focussed on the optimisation of production methods for gallium-68 PET-radiopharmaceuticals in a hospital radiopharmacy with specific reference to gallium-68 ubiquicidin, a radiopharmceutical indicated for infection imaging.
He is currently employed by Stellenbosch University at the NuMeRI Node for Infection Imaging at Tygerberg Hospital. His main interests include the labelling of radiopharmaceuticals with gallium-68, fluorine -18 and lutetium -177. He has worked at a local radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility as well as in centralised radiopharmacies, locally and abroad. Non-radiopharmacy experience includes drug utilisation review at managerial level for a large Pharmaceutical Benefit Manager and a large open Medical Scheme, as well as experience working in a Hospital Pharmacy environment.
He is currently supervising/co-supervising 5 students enrolled for a master’s degree in radiopharmacy at Stellenbosch University and serves on the SASNM Council as the co-opted member for radiopharmacy.
Prof. Michael Ljungberg
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Prof. Michael Ljungberg is a Professor at the Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Sweden. He started his research in the Monte Carlo field in 1983 by a project involving simulation of whole-body counters, but changed the focus to more general applications in nuclear medicine imaging and SPECT. As a parallel track to his development of the Monte Carlo code SIMIND, he started working with quantitative SPECT and problems related to attenuation and scatter in 1985. After his PhD graduation 1990, he received a research assistant position at the department that allowed him to continue developing SIMIND for quantitative SPECT applications and establish successful collaborations with international research groups.
In 1994, Prof. Ljungberg became an associate professor and in 2005 a full professor. His current research also includes an extensive project in oncological nuclear medicine, where he develops dosimetry methods based on quantitative SPECT, Monte Carlo absorbed dose calculations, and registration methods for accurate 3D dose planning for internal radionuclide therapy. He is also involved in undergraduate education of medical physicists and is supervising several PhD students.
Ms. Maryke Lundie
Ms. Maryke Kahts Lundie obtained her BPharm from NWU and completed her Radiopharmacy Master’s (Cum Laude) at the University of Limpopo (Medunsa) – now the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. The focus of her PhD research is the radiolabelling of blood elements with a PET radioisotope, which is being done in collaboration with colleagues at NECSA, NuMeRI and UP. She is currently employed as the co–ordinator of the MPharm in Radiopharmacy course at SMU and is proud to say that there are 37 graduates from the course to date and 15 students currently enrolled in the course. SMU and the IAEA have been very successfully collaborating from 2020 to host fellows from other African countries in the MPharm in Radiopharmacy programme. She is passionate and excited about the development of radiopharmacy in South Africa.
Dr. Amanda Mdlophane
Dr. Amanda Mdlophane obtained her Matric certificate from Ixopo High School in 2004. Thereafter she enrolled at the University of Limpopo for her Bachelor in Pharmacy. She continued her studies and obtained a Masters in Radiopharmacy from the same institution. It was only after her community service and intern period that she continued her studies at the University of Pretoria where she obtained her PhD in Medical Nuclear Sciences. A PhD did however not mean that Dr. Mdlophane wanted to stop learning; she has since obtained certifications for Quality Assurance in Pharmaceuticals, Good Clinical Practice, and Aseptic Industrial Bioprocessing. She has also been co-author of 2 peer reviewed articles and has represented her trade and country at numerous international congresses either as a presenter, reviewer, or ambassador.
Dr. Mdlophane is an enthusiastic and resilient life-long learner. Her inquisitive nature helped to fuel her interest in research. Early challenges equipped her for the sizeable task of embarking on a career in research, which is not only multidisciplinary and highly collaborative but also strongly focussed on novelty outputs. She is therefore thriving in her current position as Head of Radiopharmacy – Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure – NuMeRI.
Mr. Duncan Macduff
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Mr. Duncan Macduff is a patient volunteer and board member for NETSAS (Neuro-Endocrine Tumour Southern Africa Support). Mr Macduff was diagnosed with pancreatic NET in February 2021. This was the start of a new chapter for him in the nonprofit health and advocacy sector.
Mr Macduff has a background in programme management and strategy enablement. He is part-time Chief of Staff for a medium-sized business consultancy. He enjoys bringing his business background and skills to support NETSAS with strategy and developing patient advocacy and support. Mr. Macduff is married to Teri and they have two young daughters, Riley and Frankie.
Prof. Jasna Mihailovic
Prof. Jasna Mihailovic is the Head of Department of Nuclear Medicine at the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Serbia. She is also Full Professor at Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Novi Sad. She served as President of Serbian Society of Nuclear Medicine during the mandatory period of 2016 to 2020. At present she is President of Union of Anticancer Societies of Vojvodina. This year, she was admitted as a member of Academy of Medical Sciences Serbian Medical Society. As a senior research fellow, she serves as a member of Scientific Board in Ministry of Science Republic of Serbia.
She trained in nuclear medicine and sub-specialised in oncology and obtained her MSc and PhD degrees from the University of Novi Sad in imaging of thyroid nodules.
Previous to this, Prof. Mihailovic had several international fellowships, namely in Medizinische Hochschule Hannover; Klinikum Steglitz, Berlin‚ Hospital I Provincial de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; FU Berlin; Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne, Australia; Centre Leon Berard in Lyon, France; Nuklearmedizinische Klinik, TU-Muenchen, Germany; Klinik für Nuklearmedizin der Universität Bonn, Germany; Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Klinikum Grosshadern, München; and Cornell University, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Division of Nuclear Medicine, New York, New York, US.
Prof. Mihailovic was a member of the Thyroid Committee of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine, in charge of education, during the mandatory period of 2016 to 2020. She is also an SNMMI member and a member of the Serbian Medical Society. She has delivered numerous invited talks, presented research papers at national and international meetings, and organised multiple international and national nuclear medicine meetings as either President of Organising Committee or member of scientific committees.
Prof. Mihailovic has publications in reputed peer-reviewed journals and written several book chapters. She is a member of the Editorial board and reviewer for journals, including EJNMMI, JNMMI, NMC, Annals of Thyroid Imaging, International Journal of Radiology, European Journal of Endocrinology, and Frontiers. Her sub-specialist subjects are thyroid imaging, PET-CT, and cancer imaging. She was mentor in several Master’s theses and PhDs.
Mr. Tumelo Carel Godwin Moalosi
Mr. Tumelo Carel Godwin Moalosi obtained his BSc Honours Degree from North-West University in Mafikeng. He further graduated with Master of Science (MSc in Medical Physics) at Stellenbosch University, focussing his research on “Reconstruction algorithms for quantification of FDG PET brain imaging”. Mr. Moalosi’s interest is in nuclear medicine imaging and non-imaging equipment quality control and optimisation. He is also an expert in nuclear medicine quantification imaging.
Throughout his work experience he has gained several fellowships with IAEA to be trained in some of the international nuclear medicine departments i.e., Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney (Australia), under the guidance of Prof. Dale Bailey and in Freiburg University Hospital in Germany under the guidance of Prof. Michael Mix.
Mr. Moalosi has served as a chief scientific investigator for IAEA CRP E2.30.05 project on “Dosimetry in Radiopharmaceutical Therapy for Personalized Patient Treatment” and has also contributed to the book “Establishing of a quality control program in single photon emission computed tomography in Africa” under IAEA project RAF 6/053. He has also contributed to the IAEA Nuclear Medicine Quality assurance programme in the form of video on calibrating the gamma camera for SPECT/CT for quantitative imaging. Under his guidance, the Tygerberg Academic PET/CT centre became the first EANM/EARL accredited centre of excellence in Africa.
Mr. Moalosi is a thought leader who has been invited as a guest speaker for national congresses on topics related to nuclear medicine. He also serves as a peer reviewer for relevant international journals.
He is currently a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University and a manager of the nuclear medicine department in medical physics division at Tygerberg Hospital.
Dr. Moshe Modiselle
Dr. Moshe Modiselle is the Immediate Past President of the South African Society of Nuclear Medicine (SASNM). Having trained at the University of Pretoria as a Nuclear Medicine Registrar and worked as Consultant, he has gained much experience in PET Imaging and General Nuclear Medicine, particularly in Theranostics. After working as a Nuclear Medicine Consultant for three years at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, he moved to private practice to join one of the largest Nuclear Medicine private practices in the country.
Special interests include Theranostics (Neuroendocrine tumours and Prostate cancer), PET imaging and novel tracers in Nuclear Medicine.
Prof. Kgomotso Mokoala
Prof. Kgomotso Mokoala is an Associate Professor and the Head of Clinical Unit in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital. She is a South African Society of Nuclear Medicine (SASNM) council member and serves as the Nuclear Physicians Representative in this committee. She is currently the Academic Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the 2023 20th SASNM Biennial Congress. At the University level she is a member of the MMed and Transformation committees.
She obtained her PhD in 2022 (from the University of Pretoria) titled “Validity of tumour hypoxia assessment using 68Gallium-Nitroimidazole Positron Emission Tomography / Computed Tomography in cancer of the cervix”. Her research activities have produced more than 30 articles published in ISI-indexed peer review journals, 21 abstracts presented at national and international conferences, and 4 book chapters in books published by reputable publishers including Springer and Elsevier. She reviews for 5 journals (European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Frontiers, World Journal of Nuclear Medicine, Aging Journal, and Scientific Reports). She has also been invited as a speaker in numerous local and international meetings.
Her research interests lie in the theragnostic applications of nuclear medicine in gynaecological, skin, and endocrine malignancies. She is involved in translational research that offers solutions to complex medical dilemmas and results in improved patient care and management.
Dr. Reno Morar
Dr Reno Morar is currently the Head and Director of the School of Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha.
He is a Public Health Medicine Specialist and Executive Coach. He holds a medical degree (MBChB) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal; and postgraduate qualifications in public health (MMed Public Health Medicine, UCT and Fellowship of the College of Public Health Medicine of South Africa). In management, his qualifications include a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Management, Economics and Financial Planning (UCT); and a Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Coaching Practice (University of Stellenbosch Business School).
Reno was appointed as Chief Operating Officer of the University of Cape Town from 2019 to 2023 having served the University since 2008 in various positions in the Faculty of Health Sciences including Health Services Advisor to the Dean, Deputy-Dean of Health Services and Human Resources, Acting Deputy-Dean of Faculty Operations, and as Acting Dean. He has served as a Board member of several Non-Governmental Organisations. In the health sector, Dr Morar served as a Council member on three national regulatory bodies – the Council for Medical Schemes (Executive Member); the Health Professions Council of South Africa (Executive Member) and the Medical and Dental Professions Board (Vice-Chairperson); and the South African Medicines Pricing Committee (Vice-Chairperson). Reno is currently Vice-Chairperson of the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC). The OHSC is an independent body established in terms of the National Health Amendment Act of 2013 to ensure that both public and private health establishments in South Africa comply with the required health standards.
Dr. Stuart More
Dr. Stuart More is based at the Division of Nuclear Medicine at Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town and the current President of the South African Society of Nuclear Medicine (SASNM). He also serves as the Communications Director at the South African Clinician Scientists’ Society.
He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2008 and completed his nuclear medicine training at the University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital/Groote Schuur Hospital complex in 2017. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria/Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI).
Dr. More’s interest in the promotion, development, and advocacy of nuclear medicine, molecular imaging, and theranostics at all levels have allowed him to collaborate with multiple stakeholders in advancing the future of the field, particularly in the direction theranostics is taking in South Africa and globally.
Prof. Shingai Mutambirwa
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Prof. Shingai Mutambirwa holds M Med (Urology) Medunsa and FCS (Urol) degrees, qualifying in 1996.
Head of Department of Urology at Dr. George Mukhari Academic hospital and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria, South Africa since 2008 to date where he teaches post and under graduate medical/urology students.
He is a peer reviewer for the Journal of Urology (official journal of the American Urological Association), the African Journal of Urology, and Hindawi online publications. He has published more than 80 peer reviewed articles and 10 book chapters.
His board memberships include the Prostate Cancer Foundation of South Africa (founding member), and Senator (Urology) for the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA).
Prof. Mutambirwa serves on advisory boards and is a key opinion leader for Aspen, Astellas, Jansen (J&J), Bayer, Schering Pharma, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Abbott, Schering-Plough, Ferring, and Adcock Ingram.
Dr. Helen Nadel
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Dr. Helen Nadel is a dual board-certified paediatric radiologist and nuclear medicine physician in the USA and Canada. She is currently Director of Pediatric Nuclear Medicine at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford and prior to that was Head of Pediatric Nuclear Medicine at British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver for 35 years. She has been working with general and hybrid nuclear medicine studies in children and lecturing to promote paediatric nuclear medicine for her entire career. She is a past member of the Board of Directors of ABNM and is a Fellow of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). She is the 2023–2024 President of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
Dr. Clifford Nxomani
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Dr Clifford Nxomani is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa, responsible for national research infrastructure platforms. I am a driven, visionary, strategic and conceptual thinker with well-developed organizational leadership expertise derived from over 15 years of experience at executive level, and 7 years at operational and senior management levels. I have spent a further 8 years in operational roles as a specialist resource. The combined 30 years of work experience has been spent in the academic, research, research management and science and innovation environment in South Africa. This includes over a decade as Managing Director providing executive leadership for a complex and multi-faceted business with close to three hundred staff and a budget ranging between R100m and R150m per annum, more than half of which was self-generated. My current portfolio includes oversight of over 900 staff, an annual budget of ~R2.5bn and an asset base of ~R3bn.
My professional experience has been in general and executive management of research support / development, and research capacity development programmes (at the National Research Foundation and the South African Medical Research Council); in biodiversity and agricultural biotechnology research (at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity and the Agricultural Research Council, respectively); as well as a short stint in academia as a Lecturer in Biochemistry, Microbiology & Molecular Biology at the Tshwane University of Technology. I am in my second five-year term in senior executive management and oversight (as the Deputy CEO) of national research infrastructure platforms, for the national science system, at the NRF).
In addition to holding a doctoral degree in fish molecular genetics, I have completed Executive Development Programmes at Wits University (2015) and University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School (2021). I am certified by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) as an Attractions Leader.
Prof. Nozipho Nyakale
Prof. Nozipho Nyakale is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital.
Prof. Nyakale has multiple peer-reviewed published articles, abstracts and book chapters, has presented at multiple conferences and hosted updates and training workshops. She has been instrumental in areas of curriculum development and accreditation in the field of Nuclear Medicine as well as in introducing new procedures and therapies in the departments she has headed. She has also played a pivotal role in increasing access to Nuclear Medicine to patients in the public sector and, among other awards, was a recipient of the Discovery Foundation Rural Distinguished Visitor Award. She has served on several boards and gained a broad knowledge of the industry side of the field of Nuclear Medicine. Her teaching and supervision experience is also vast and stems over the many years’ experience in the field.
Ms. Erika Padilla-Morales
Ms. Erika Padilla-Morales’s evolution began in 2016 with an internship at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in radioguided surgery. This experience galvanised her desire to work at a university hospital. In 2017 she joined the University of California in San Francisco to begin her career to focus on patient care rooted in medical innovation. She is honoured to participate in both imaging and radiotherapy for clinical and research studies.
Ms. Padilla-Morales is an engagement ambassador for the Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics team at UCSF. She has presented at the 2022 SNMMI Annual Meeting in Vancouver; the 2022 Western Regional Meeting in Tahoe, California; and has been elected as a member of the SNMMI Technologist Leadership Academy for 2023. Ms. Padilla-Morales’s desire is for all patients to benefit from the collective compassion and excellence of their care teams.
Dr. Diana Paez
Dr. Diana Paez Gutierrez serves as the Head of the Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Section within the Division of Human Health, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2013.
Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Dr. Paez obtained her degree in Medicine and Surgery from El Bosque University’s Faculty of Medicine. She also holds a degree in Nuclear Medicine from Javeriana University’s National Cancer Institute, earned in 1994. In 1997, she pursued further training in nuclear cardiology at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital and in nuclear oncology (PET) at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, USA. Additionally, she possesses a master’s degree in Communication and Education from Autonoma University in Barcelona, Spain.
Dr. Paez is dedicated to assisting countries in enhancing healthcare accessibility and incorporating nuclear medicine and radiology into their national development strategies. Her focus includes addressing disparities and diversities and strengthening the expertise of nuclear medicine and radiology professionals globally. She employs information and communication technologies to expand the reach of educational initiatives. Dr. Paez collaborates with both professional and non-governmental organizations to provide coordinated support to the medical community.
She has co-authored more than 140 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and book chapters, with 38 of them centered around nuclear cardiology. Notably, she contributed to the IAEA Atlas of Cardiac PET/CT, published in May 2022. Dr. Paez played a role in convening the first meeting through IAEA for the Lancet Oncology Commission on Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, published in March 2021. This report emphasizes the necessity of enhancing patients’ awareness and access to imaging and nuclear medicine for cancer treatment.
Dr. Paez strongly advocates for integrating nuclear cardiology within a multidisciplinary approach and supports clinical research in cardiac imaging through the IAEA Coordinated Research Programme. She is an enthusiastic lecturer, takes part in scientific panels, and has chaired numerous symposia and scientific meetings in the role of scientific secretary.
Dr. Keamogetswe Ramonaheng
Presenting in the Breakfast Symposium
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Dr. Keamogetswe Ramonaheng is the head of medical physics and radiobiology at the Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure-NuMeRI in Pretoria, South Africa. She is a lecturer at the University of Pretoria and is involved in teaching and supervising master’s and Ph.D. students specialising in medical nuclear sciences.
She is appointed as an honorary medical physicist for Steve Biko Academic Hospital and has served as an examiner at various prestigious higher academic institutions. During her training, she was awarded an international fellowship by the International Atomic Energy Agency where she worked at the Department of Nuclear Medicine at Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, Australia. She is a reviewer of the World Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Her area of research interest primarily focusses on optimising nuclear medicine images for accurate activity quantification, in dosimetry applications of theranostics. She was awarded the best presentation at the 17th Biennial South African Society of Nuclear Medicine. Her recent work has centred on dosimetry using voxel-based patient-specific phantoms and Monte Carlo simulations. She completed her Ph.D. in Monte Carlo simulations for computing organ-specific absorbed doses for lutetium-177 in collaboration with the Medical Physics Department at the University of the Free State, and the Department of Medical Radiation Physics at the University of Lund, Sweden. She has published several articles in international peer-reviewed journals showcasing her research work in nuclear medicine and is currently a member of the successful research team at NuMeRI.
Ms. Andrea Santos
Ms. Andrea Santos was born in South Africa in Vanderbijlpark in the province of Gauteng. At the age of 6 she travelled with her family to live in Portugal, close to the capital – Lisbon. Ms. Santos studied in Portugal and became a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, with a degree in nuclear medicine and a Master of Science degree in radiopharmacy. She is currently working in Lisbon as Nuclear Medicine Technologist at Hospital Cuf Descobertas and adjunct lecturer at the university.
Ms. Santos has been working in the European Association of Nuclear Medicine since 2015. In 2019 she became the chair of the Technologists Committee and is currently the past-chair of the same committee.
Prof. Mike Sathekge
Prof. Mike Sathekge is a Professor and Head of Nuclear Medicine department at University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital. He heads the South African Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure. Prof. Sathekge has published more than 230 peer-reviewed articles, excluding abstracts and book chapters. He is one of the global leaders concerning treatment of prostate cancer using targeted alpha therapy. He also led and introduced several targeted molecular imaging and therapeutic probes in infection and oncology in Africa.
Prof. Sathekge is the Editor-in-Chief of Seminars in Nuclear Medicine and an Associate Editor of the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and the Journal of Nuclear Medicine (top journals in nuclear medicine).
Prof. Sathekge is the President of the World Association of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Therapy and the Chair of the Africa Health Research Institution. He holds numerous scientific honours and awards.
Mr. Sandile M. Sibiya
Mr. Sandile M. Sibiya is a Responsible Pharmacist of the Cyclotron Facility at NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd overseeing compliance and product release of [18F]-FDG as well as [18F]F-PSMA-1007. With 7 years in the Nuclear Medicine space, he has been involved in production of NovaTec-P generators and Iodine Capsules as well as Lyophilised kits such as RBC, MDP, and many others, before moving to Quality Assurance in the production facilities at NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd as a product release Pharmacist.
Mr. Sibiya graduated with a Bachelors degree in Pharmacy from the University of the Witwatersrand, after which he worked as a community Pharmacist. He is currently enrolled for a Master of Science in Medicine Degree at Stellenbosch University, focussing on Nuclear Medicine (Radiopharmacy).
Ms. Hendrietta Kgomotso Tlhapi
Ms. Hendrietta Kgomotso Tlhapi is an independent Medical Physicist and Director of LK Medical Physics Consulting. Prior to this, Ms. Tlhapi worked for two years as the Radiation Control Manager at the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Ms. Tlhapi has 16 years of professional experience as a Medical Physicist in Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Radiation Protection ,and teaching. Her Nuclear Medicine interests are mainly in Radiation Protection and Safety and Internal dosimetry. She worked as Deputy Director of the Medical Physics Department at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) / Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) Complex. During her period at DGMAH and SMU, she also acted as an HOD for the Medical Physics Department. Ms. Tlhapi also worked as an Assistant Manager in the Nuclear Medicine department at Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
Ms. Tlhapi obtained her MSc (Med) in Medical Physics from Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences and her BSc (Hons) (Med) in Medical Physics from the University of Limpopo. During her academic years as a Senior Lecturer at SMU and the University of Pretoria, she has supervised honours and Masters students and also trained Medical Physics interns.
She currently serves as an Executive Council Member of the South African Society of Nuclear Medicine (SASNM), the South African Association of Physicists in Medicine and Biology (SAAPMB) and the South African Medical Physicists Society (SAMPS).
Dr. Nicholas van der Meulen
Dr. Nicholas van der Meulen hails from Cape Town, South Africa, and currently resides in northwest Switzerland. He obtained his PhD in Chemistry from Stellenbosch University in 2008, with his thesis work concentrating on the production of various radionuclides (Ga-67, Ge-68, Sr-82, Y-88, etc.), predominantly for medical purposes. He worked as a research chemist for the Radionuclide Production Group at iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences (iThemba LABS) for 17 years before taking up the position of Group Leader: Radionuclide Development at Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland, in 2013. He is actively involved in the development of exotic radionuclides towards preclinical/clinical application, as well as the supervision of students in this field.
Dr. van der Meulen’s current focus is on the “matched pair” principle in radiotheranostics, particularly concentrating on terbium and scandium radioisotopes. The development thereof has led to the first-in-human application of terbium-152, terbium-161, and cyclotron-produced scandium-44. He has been instrumental in the development of terbium-161, where it is currently being prepared for a clinical trial as 161Tb-DOTA-LM3. He represents Switzerland on various EU and IAEA platforms based on his expertise and experience in radionuclide development.
Prof. Mboyo-Di-Tamba Vangu
Prof. Mboyo-Di-Tamba Vangu is a Chief Specialist, Full Professor, and Head of Nuclear Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand for the CM Johannesburg Academic and CH-Baragwanath Academic Hospitals. He is also the head of the department for Radiation Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. Currently, he occupies the office as the assistant head of school of clinical medicine in charge of cluster B that includes internal medicine, psychiatry, radiation sciences, and neurosciences.
Prof. Vangu’s academic qualifications are as follows: MD, MMed, MSc, and PhD, and he has numerous publications, conferences, and workshop proceedings as well as keynote addresses locally and internationally. He also received a Certificate on Executive MBA of the University of Nebraska, USA, and completed a Certification on Fundamentals of Clinical and Translational Research with the Harvard Catalyst Educational Program (Harvard, USA). He has occupied numerous academic and professional positions. He has supervised numerous MMed and PhD students.
Prof. Vangu is at present the nuclear medicine physician who has supervised the largest number of residents, from entering the program to qualification (College of Nuclear Physicians), since nuclear medicine has been officially established as a specialisation in South Africa in 1986. He has been promoting nuclear medicine teaching and education in South Africa, the African continent, and internationally for more than 15 years. He has received numerous awards locally and internationally, including the 2020 ‘Gold Medal’ of the faculty of health sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. He has presented more than 100 abstracts and delivered numerous lectures.
Prof. Mariza Vorster
Prof. Mariza Vorster is an associate Professor and Head of Department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Nuclear Medicine. The nuclear medicine complex currently consists of 3 departments located at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital, King Edward Hospital, and Addington Hospital. She is the current President of the Colleges of Nuclear Physicians and serves on the management committee of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa’s (CMSA) Examinations and Credentials Committee.
Prof. Vorster obtained her PhD in 2014 on the use of 68Ga-citrate PET in indeterminate lung lesions and is an NRF-rated scientist who has authored and co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed articles.
Prof. Vorster is passionate about training well-rounded nuclear medicine physicians who are sought after globally and improving access to nuclear medicine facilities. Internationally, she has served as an IAEA expert and collaborator on several projects and has been involved in the coordination and teaching of various teaching workshops aimed at radiographers and nuclear physicians from across Africa.
Her research interests include the use of novel Ga-68 based tracer applications and theranostics aimed at solving important clinical problems. She aspires to make a meaningful difference by addressing diagnostic challenges that are unique to the South African setting in a cost-effective way.
Prof. James Warwick
Prof. James Warwick (BSc MBChB FCNP(SA) MMed PhD) is professor and head of the division of nuclear medicine at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital. He is a Past President of SASNM, serving in this role during 2014-2016.
He completed a BSc majoring in physics and applied mathematics before studying medicine at the University of Cape Town. He qualified as a nuclear medicine physician after undergoing specialist training at Stellenbosch University.
His research interests include utilisation of functional brain imaging in psychiatry and neurology, applications and impact on PET/CT imaging of infections, and the measurement and estimation of renal function.
He has more than 20 years of experience in the teaching, training, and examination of nuclear medicine trainees. He served as President of the College of Nuclear Physicians of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa during the period 2011-2020.
Prof. Dusty York
Prof. Dusty York is the immediate Past President of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologists Section (SNMMI-TS). She is a fellow within the SNMMI-TS which recognises members for their service to the Society and for their outstanding contributions to the field of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. Prof. York is also an associate professor and clinical co-ordinator of the nuclear medicine program at Chattanooga State Community College located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.
Prof. York was named the SNMMI-TS Outstanding Educator of the Year in 2017. Most recently, she was named Augusta University’s 2020 Alumni of the Year. She has been a site visitor for the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology since 2005, and has served on various review boards and exam committees.
Professor Zukiswa Zingela
Professor Zukiswa Zingela is the Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences at Nelson Mandela University and the previous Head of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and Walter Sisulu University. She is currently serving as the second vice president of the International Narcotics Control Board and also a Member of the Medical and Dental Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Prof Zingela is a registered specialist psychiatrist with more than. two decades of experience in the profession with a strong history of teaching, research, and mentorship. She holds an MBCHB from University of KwaZulu Natal, an MMed Psych from University of Pretoria a FCPsych from The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and a PhD Psychology from Nelson Mandela University. Her areas of interest and research publications are on Catatonia, Traditional Medicine and mental health, substance misuse and mental health, occupational mental health, and public mental health.
