Dr. Nojilana trained as a Clinical Assistant and then completed a Diploma in Statistics. While working in medical research, she completed her Masters and PhD in Public Health at the University of the Western Cape. During her research career, she has developed expertise in coding and evaluating of cause-of-death information. Her current interests are in burden of disease, with a particular interest in the epidemiology of non-communicable diseases and surveillance of risk factors. Her PhD thesis explored and evaluated policy approaches to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.