Ophthalmologist Glaucoma & Paediatrics,
President, South African Glaucoma Society, South Africa.
Born in Pretoria in 1973
• QUALIFICATIONS
◦ Matriculate in 1991 from High School FH Odendaal in Pretoria
◦ MBChB (1998) University of Pretoria
◦ ACLS Instructor 1999 – 2004, 2020
◦ Dip (Ophth)SA from the Colleges of Medicine
◦ FC(Ophth) SA in 2009 Fellowship From the Colleges of Medicine
◦ MMed(UL) in 2011 University of Limpopo
• AWARDS
◦ Six distinctions in the final Matric examinations
◦ Dux Scholar: Best student in Mathematics, Science Computer Science, Biology, Afrikaans, and Northern Sotho.
◦ Best academic achievement in Mathematics in the provincial final Matric exams.
◦ University of Pretoria bursary on academic merit (1992, 1993, 1996, 1997)
• CURRENT POSITION
◦ Since 2016 Ophthalmologist in private practice at Montana, Pretoria
• PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
◦ Internship and Community service years did at Klerksdorp / Tsepong Hospital Complex where I rotated through various departments.
◦ Emergency Room Physician in Saudi Arabia – SAAD Specialist Hospital in Al Khobar
◦ General Practitioner in Pretoria
◦ Emergency Room Physician in Meulmed, Wilgers, and Eugene Marais Hospitals
◦ Medical Officer in Polokwane / Mankweng Hospital Complex
◦ General Practitioner in Polokwane
◦ Registrar in Ophthalmology at Polokwane/ Mankweng Complex
◦ Registrar in Ophthalmology at George Mukari Hospital
◦ In 2009 I joined the Pretoria Eye Institute as an Ophthalmologist in private practice.
◦ I played a key role in training medical students and Ophthalmology Registrars rotating in the eye clinics.
◦ 2013 Moorefield’s Glaucoma Travelling Fellowship with Sir Peng Tee Khaw in London, United Kingdom
◦ 2013 Oxford Glaucoma visiting fellowship With Dr. John Salmon in Oxford, United Kingdom
◦ Ophthalmologist in Private practice at Optimed Eye and Laser Clinic with Dr. F. Potgieter in 2016.
◦ Executive member of SASCRS (South African Cataract and Refractive Society) since 2019
◦ Executive member of SAGS (South African Glaucoma Society) since 2014 till 2017
◦ Vice-President of SAGS (South African Glaucoma Society) since 2017 till 2022
◦ President of SAGS (South African Glaucoma Society) since 2022
◦ Director and CEO of Virida Day Hospital, Montana, Pretoria.
• INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER COUNTRIES IN AFRICA AND BEYOND
◦ Registration at the Namibian Health Professional Council – ophthalmic surgery in Swakopmund since 2015
◦ Keynote speaker in Namibia for Allergan.
◦ Faculty member of the Thessaloniki Vitreo-Retinal Summer School in Thessaloniki, Greece 2023.
◦ Faculty member of the Middle Eastern Ophthalmology Meeting
• PAPER AND CONGRESS PRESENTATIONS
◦ “High turnover cataract theatres” – presented in the OSSA conference and published article in the SA Ophthalmology Journal
◦ “Secondary membrane formation rate in pediatric cataract surgery without vitrectomy” – Presented in the OSSA Conference and published an article in the SA Ophthalmology Journal
◦ A regular presenter at Optometrists, Ophthalmic Assistants, and Nurses
Training sessions and congresses
◦ Regular presenter at various congresses in South Africa, Europe, Middle East and the USA.
◦ Regular presenter at various allied health congresses in South Africa.
◦ “The weird and the Wonderful” presented at the Heidelberg international users meeting in Istanbul, Turkey.
◦ “OCT an evolving role in Neuro-ophthalmology in South Africa” presented in Boston, USA
◦ “Artisan made easy”- Presentation at OSSA congress and published in the South African Journal of Ophthalmology.
◦ “Doctor, can it be all in my head?” Neuro-Ophthalmology – Presentation at OSSA congress and published in the South African Journal of Ophthalmology.
◦ ” Minimal invasive Glaucoma surgery” – Presentation at OSSA congress and published in the South African Journal of Ophthalmology.
◦ “Trabectome – surgical videos”- Presentation at OSSA and SAGS congress and published in the South African Journal of Ophthalmology.
◦ “HFDS a new procedure”- Presentation at OSSA congress and published in the South African Journal of Ophthalmology.
◦ “XEN – new MIGS”- Presentation at OSSA and SAGS congress and published in the South African Journal of Ophthalmology.
◦ Vision 2020 speaker for Africa’s involvement.
◦ Dry Eye presentation in Barcelona Spain at the OCEAN meeting
◦ MIGS workshop in Florence, Italy, for the XEN Glaucoma implant
◦ Heidelberg users meeting in Valencia, Spain.
◦ MIGS workshop at World Ophthalmology Congress 2018, Barcelona, Spain.
◦ “Cataract surgery and glaucoma” World Ophthalmology Congress 2020, Zoom.
◦ MIGS workshop in OSSA 2022 and SAGS congress 2022
◦ “Vitreo-Retinal Surgery and Glaucoma- yearly workshop TVRS 2022 to 2024, Thessaloniki, Greece
◦ MEOM – wetlab presenter and faculty member 2024.
• RESEARCH PARTICIPATION
◦ Good Clinical Practice Certificate for research.
◦ I participated in the Allergan Ozudex trial.
◦ Participated as researcher in the Brimonidine trial – Allergan.
◦ Independent trial done – Trabectome – Neomedix.
◦ Independent trial done – High turn-over cataract theatres – University of Limpopo.
◦ Independent trials done – Posterior capsule-opacity rate in Paediatric cataract surgery patients – Mankweng Hospital – Medunsa.
• MAGAZINE AND RADIO INVOLVEMENT
◦ Contributing writer for the VISION magazine which is published bi-monthly.
◦ Contributing writer for Adcock Ophthalmic magazine
◦ Articles for local South African magazines: Huisgenoot and You, and Sarie, Loving & Living
◦ Talks on different radio stations in South Africa: RSG, Radio Pretoria, Chai FM, Impact radio, and Radio Kragbron.
• FURTHER INVOLVEMENT IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
◦ Keynote speaker for Allergan / Abbvie Pharmaceuticals on Congresses, Didactic programs and Radio stations
◦ Keynote speaker and advisor to Envision Africa
◦ Advisor to Zeiss on glaucoma articles
◦ Speaker for Heidelberg Engineering Germany
◦ Journal Club speaker and organizer
◦ Keynote speaker for Gen-eye.
◦ Keynote speaker for Oculus.
◦ Keynote speaker for Eyeonics
• CONGRESS INVOLVEMENTS
◦ SAGS (South African Glaucoma Society) congress organization every year with hands-on workshops.
◦ SASCRS (South African Cataract and Refractive Society) congress
◦ World Ophthalmology Congress – part of the organizing committee for 2020.
◦ OSSA (Ophthalmology Society of South Africa) regular presenter and convener of surgical workshops.
◦ Wet-lab and Workshop Organizer introducing new surgical techniques in Ophthalmology in Greece and the Middle East.
• INTERPERSONAL
◦ Cross-cultural training through various seminars attended
• HOBBIES
◦ Motherhood
◦ Wildlife enthusiast
◦ Mosaic work, ceramic painting and crafts
◦ Sowing and needlework
◦ Music – playing the guitar and piano
• GENERAL
◦ Languages Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Tswana
◦ Driver’s license Code 08
◦ Date of Birth 7 February 1973
◦ ID Number 7302070123081
◦ Marital Status Married to Lodewyk Petrus Willemse
◦ Mother of two boys
• REFERENCES
◦ Dr. Frits Stegmann
◦ Prof Rob Stegmann
◦ Prof Paul Foster
◦ Mr. Ian Murdock
◦ Mr. Keith Barton
◦ Mr. John Brooks
◦ Dr. John Salmon
◦ Prof A. Pienaar
◦ Dr. Bill Nortje
◦ Dr. F Potgieter
