Page 188 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

Prof David Katerere, also a beneficiary under the Prof Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya:
Mid-Career Scientist Programme, was appointed by a Lifetime Achiever and a Trailblazer
the National Research Foundation (NRF) as the Chair Prof Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya, a renowned
of the Health Research Theme Advisory Committee South African academic and research leader,
which aims to identify research priorities aligned to a was recently awarded the Lifetime Achiever
new thematic research support instrument planned and Trailblazer Awards, both at the 2024 Higher
by the NRF.
Education Women Leaders Awards (HEWLA).

The HEWLA ceremony was held to celebrate women
whose leadership and influence have positively
impacted universities and the greater community.
The award recognized Prof Phaswana-Mafuya’s
empowerment, hard work, leadership in building the
next generation of researchers, and success in health
science research. These accolades are just one of
her many achievements and solidify her as one of
South Africa's most influential figures in academia.
She has been previously awarded the NSTF TW
Nkambule Award in 2017 in recognition of her
outstanding contribution to science, technology and
mathematics. Prof Phaswana-Mafuya has served as
Chair of the 9th SA AIDS Conference in 2019. She is
also the Director of the University of Johannesburg's
African Centre for Epidemics Research (PACER), an
Prof Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya. SAMRC extramural unit.

Prof Phaswana-Mafuya places a strong emphasis
on capacity development. With the support of
the SAMRC Mid-Career Scientist grant, she has
successfully recruited and funded postgraduate
students, both MSc and PhD candidates, thereby
advancing their development into established
researchers. As she continues to lead by example, her
work serves as an inspiration to future generations
of academics, researchers, and women leaders.
Through her pioneering effort, Prof Phaswana-
Mafuya has further demonstrated that leadership is
not just about personal success but about creating
pathways for others to thrive. The HEWLA award is
thus a well-deserved recognition of her commitment
to excellence, equity, and transformative leadership
Prof Salome Maswime. in higher education.
Beneficiaries of the South African Medical Prof Salome Maswime: Leading the
Research Council (SAMRC) Mid-Career Scientist
Programme (MCSP) continue to showcase their WHO Collaborating Centre
remarkable achievements. Two notable successes Prof Salome Maswime is a globally recognised
are recent outstanding 2024 Higher Education obstetrician and gynaecologist who has made
Women Leaders Awards of Lifetime Achiever significant contributions to maternal health,
and Trailblazer for Prof Refilwe Nancy Phaswana-
Mafuya and the appointment of Prof Salome particularly in the field of surgery and maternal
Maswime as the Director of the newly established mortality. She has recently been appointed to lead
World Health Organization Collaborating Centre. the newly established World Health Organisation
(WHO) Collaborating Centre for Integrated Clinical

186 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2024-25