Executive Committee

PRESIDENT: DR MATONDO BALENDA
	Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo with a long experience in the field of surgery, he was awarded his first degree in Medicine at the University of Kinshasa in 1982, before specialised in General Surgery and obtained a postgraduate degree in 1988 at the same University. He was also given academic responsibilities as a consultant at the academic hospital, known as Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa, under the Faculty of Medicine until 1990 when he decided to immigrate to South Africa. Dr Balenda worked in 2 Regional hospitals for 5 consecutive years as a Principal Medical Officer in South Africa’s medical system before joining Garankuwa Tertiary Hospital attached to the Medical University (MEDUNSA) for additional academic training in Plastic and reconstructive surgery from 1994 to 2000. As a medical professional, Dr Balenda was assigned to manage general surgery at Jane Furse Regional Hospital in Limpopo, at Odi Community Hospital in North West Province, then at Garankuwa Hospital, Tertiary level attached to the Medical University of South Africa in Gauteng. Being registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as an independent general practitioner since July 2001, Dr Balenda runs a practice at Louis Pasteur Hospital of Pretoria with a special interest in Advanced wound care and Reconstructive surgery. He also accepted to offer further medical services as Clinical Manager in the Public sector by supporting the Community health service at Far East Rand Hospital Gauteng since 2013. Dr Balenda is currently busy with his second postgraduate IIWCC programme through the University of Toronto, Canada, in conjunction with the University of Stellenbosch. He is also the recipient of several training workshop certificates in advanced wound cares and reconstructive surgery and has also been invited as Guest and Key speaker on several occasions in Health related seminars and workshops. He delivers lectures on his long experience in advance wound care and healing   E-mail: president@whasa.org
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: GERDA VAN RENSBURG
	Gerda van Rensburg qualified as a podiatrist at the Technicon of Witwatersrand in 1983 and worked as a podiatrist with special interest in the management of the diabetic foot since then. She obtained the Interproffessional Wound care certificate from the University of Stellenbosch, followed by the Glamorgan Diabetes Management and Glamorgan MSc in Diabetes management from 2010 to 2013. She is currently working at The Centre for Diabetes as podiatrist. Her professional involvement includes serving as the current President of Wound Healing Association of Southern Africa the National Executive Committee of the Diabetes Educators Society of South Africa.   E-mail: past.president@whasa.org
VICE PRESIDENT ELECT, EDUCATION: MARIETTE SWART
	Mariette Swart studied at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth ( B Cur.I et A) and Hons advanced Nursing Science. In 2009 she obtained a certificate in Wound Care from the University of Free State. She also obtained the Interprofessional Interdisciplinary Wound Care certificate from the university Toronto/Stellenbosch 2010. She is an advanced wound care practitioner in private practice (Wounds on Wheels) and also a wound care consultant at numerous institutions and hospitals. Mariette has presented numerous wound care training sessions, assist with workshops and is a part time lecturer (wound Care ) at the university Free State. She is also a member of the faculty of IIWCC at the University of Stellenbosch.   E-mail: info@whasa.org
TREASURER: PATRIA DU PLOOY
	Patria du Plooy studied at the Andrew Fleming Nurses College in Zimbabwe and qualified with a Diploma in Nursing – Registered Nurse in 1980. In 1986 she obtained a diploma in Midwifery, she also obtained a certificate in Neonatology from the University of Pretoria in 1994, Certificate in Pharmacology from the university of Witwatersrand in 2004. She also obtained the Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control through Life Group School of Nursing in 2011. She has attended the Art and Science of Wound care “Train the Trainer” course in 2012. Patria has presented wound care training sessions and is currently working for Life Healthcare – Life Beacon Bay Hospital in East London as an Infection Prevention Specialist.   E-mail: treasurer@whasa.org
EDITOR IN CHIEF WHSA: NICK KAIRINOS
	Dr Nick Kairinos is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon based at Chris Barnard Hospital in Cape Town. He completed his post-graduate training at UCT and continues his ties with academia by continuing a weekly morning session at Groote Schuur Hospital. In addition to his plastic surgery qualification (FC Plast Surg), he has an extensive research background, having obtained an MMed research degree in general surgery with distinction. He later became the first South African to be awarded a PhD in plastic surgery from UCT. This was for his multi-award winning work on the mechanism of action of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy. As the only surgeon worldwide with a PhD on this topic, he is regarded as a Key Opinion Leader in this field and in wound care in general. Dr Kairinos is currently a reviewer in the field of wound care for 5 International peer-reviewed journals and has been an invited speaker and moderator at both national and international congresses. He is the medical director of a new multidisciplinary centre of excellence for complex wounds in Cape Town, which has a heavy focus on research and innovation. Having patented wound care products in the past, Dr Kairinos aims to continue his passion for research and innovation at this facility. Dr Kairinos was elected as the Editor-in-Chief of the South African Wound Healing Journal in January 2016.   E-mail: editor.whsa@whasa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR IN CHIEF WHSA: MARIA GIAQUINTO-CILLIERS
	Dr. Maria Giaquinto-Cilliers is a Brazilian qualified Plastic Surgeon living in South Africa for the past 12 years. She has been, for the past 9 years, the head of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burns Unit at Kimberley Hospital, a Tertiary hospital in the Northern Cape, which is a satellite of the University of the Free State. Currently she is the secretary for the South African Burn Society (SABS), and has presented awarded papers in the last two conferences of the society. She has written and published eight (8) chapters in books, one (1) chapter for an international encyclopedia (to be published), authored and co-authored eight (8) papers in peer-reviewed Journals (and three to be published), and has presented seventy nine (79) papers and posters (8 in national conferences). While in Brazil, she was an assistant professor and lecturer for the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and consultant for private hospitals. In 2014, she completed the International Interprofessional Wound Care Course (IIWCC-ZA) and received an award for her selective study (second best).
MEMBER REGIONAL COORDINATOR, SAPUAP PRESSURE ULCERS: MARENA BOTHA
	Marena Botha completed the 4-year Nursing Diploma in 1999 through the SG Lourens Nursing College. Marena obtained experience in most disciples as theatre scrub nurse as well as clinical facilitator. Marena started a private wound care practice in 2011 and successfully completed Certificates in Holistic Wound Management, Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Treatment of Complicated Wounds, Prevention of Pressure Ulcers and Lower Leg Ulcers through the University of the Free state in 2014. Marena also completed the Stoma Therapy certificate through the University of the Free state in 2015. Marena is currently the Members Committee and Regional Chapters Chairperson and Chairperson of the South African Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. Marena is the Director of Suikerbosrand Advanced Wound Care and Stoma Clinic (PTY) Ltd offering advanced wound care and stoma services on the East Rand of Johannesburg and the Vaal Triangle.   E-mail: regional.coordinator@whasa.org
MEMBER PRESSURE ULCER GROUP: HENTA WELLS
	Henta Wells started studying nursing at S.G. Lourens Nursing College, Pretoria in 1999, completed the 4 year Comprehensive Course (General- Psychiatric- Community Nursing and Midwifery) in 2002. Worked community hours back at Hercules and Pretoria-North Clinic in 2003-2004, then started working part time at Montana Hospital in ICU until end 2005. Full time employment at Montana Hospital, Pretoria in ICU from 2006-2014, then moved to the Wound Care Dept. from 2015-presently. Joined SAPUAP as Vice-Chair in 2015 and WHASA North-Gauteng Regional Chair in January 2016. She is presently doing the 1 year Wound Care Course of The University of the Free State in Johannesburg.
MEMBER PRIVATE PRACTICE ISSUES: EVA MAKHOANE
	Evatonia Desiree Makhoane is a registered Private Nurse Practitioner who obtained her certificate in Wound Care through Bloemfontein. She also received a Bachelors degree through Unisa, majoring in Education and Administration. She is also certified in HIV and Aids wound care, and has attended the IIWCC course. She is also the chairperson for the Gauteng South region.   E-mail: private.practice.issues@whasa.org
PAST PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL LIASION: HISKE SMART
	Hiske Smart studied at the Free State University in Bloemfontein (Hons. B. Soc.Sc (Verpl), Potchefstroom University (MA Nursing Science) and at the Wound Healing Research unit in Cardiff where she received a Postgraduate diploma in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair (cum laude). She obtained the Interprofessional Interprofessional Wound care completion certificate from the University of Toronto in 2008 where after the course came to Stellenbosch University, South Africa from 2010. She is a clinical nurse specialist in wound care and currently a unit manager for a hyperbaric oxygen therapy facility in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Her specific task is to expand the existing wound care unit into a diabetic foot center of excellence. Her two main interests are still acute traumatic tissue injury as well as the lower limb and foot of the diabetic patient. Her commitment to interprofessional wound care teaching remains with strong ties to the Universities of Toronto, Stellenbosch and New York. As past president of WHASA her task is to finalize and prepare the consensus documents for launch at the WHASA conference of 2015.
PAST PRESIDENT: GREGORY WEIR
	Gregory Weir is a certified and registered Vascular Surgeon. He completed his training in Medicine, General Surgery and Vascular Surgery at the University of Pretoria, where he is still involved as a part-time consultant and lecturer. He also did a Vascular, Trauma and Critical Care Fellowship in Sydney, Australia. He regards himself fortunate to have received training in Hyperbaric Medicine from Dr. Frans Cronje. Gregory has a specific interest in the role of ischaemia and hypoxia as a major etiological factor in chronic wounds.
PAST PRESIDENT: LIEZL NAUDE
	Sr. Liezl Naude is Clinical Wound Management Specialist who heads her own Wound Care Clinic since 2001. She qualified as a Registered Nurse (B Cur) at the University of Pretoria in 1996. In 2002 she completed a Masters Degree in Community Nursing (M Cur - cum laude) at the University of Pretoria. She followed this up with an University Certificate in Wound Care at the University of the Free State in 2003 and a Certificate in Wound Care from the University of Hertfordshire UK in 2005. She is also part of a multi-disciplinary Diabetic Foot and Ulcer clinic at Montana Hospital in Pretoria. She has a passion for Wound Care and the education of peers and patients alike.
PAST PRESIDENT: FRANS CRONJE
	Dr. Frans J Cronje is a Medical Practitioner who runs a Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Centre at Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria. He qualified MBChB at the University of Pretoria (cum laude) in 1991 and completed an academic Fellowship in Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine at Duke University, Durham, NC, USA in 2003. He is the pioneer of modern hyperbaric oxygen therapy in South Africa and has dedicated his professional career to the advancement of wound care - in all its forms - in Southern Africa.