I am a specialist in Adult Infectious Diseases, having initially specialized in Internal Medicine.

My employment for nearly 30 years has been according to the combined services agreement, under conditions of service of the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness. As subspecialist in Infectious Diseases at  Tygerberg Hospital, most of my working hours are devoted to clinical care and management of patients. In this capacity I have also had significant duties in General Medicine, of which some are remaining. As senior lecturer in Infectious Diseases, I have duties in both teaching and research. The latter also includes being committee member and vice-chair of Stellenbosch University Heath Research Ethics Committee-2.

My career in Infectious Diseases has been influenced by 2 large epidemics: HIV and COVID-19. The management of HIV and related opportunistic conditions was initially the responsibility of the field of Infectious Diseases. Although the general management of HIV Medicine has lately become the responsibility of Primary Healthcare, this required initial training of staff and decentralization of services. Yet gaps remain in the knowledge base, regarding the operational management of HIV. The local HIV service at Tygerberg Hospital has become focused on managing more complicated cases, which are referred from local levels of healthcare. Due to the initial patient load in the HIV clinic, it became necessary to improve clinic management. I built and still maintain an electronic patient record and management system for the clinic, which has been extremely valuable over the last 20 years.

The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated the need for Outbreak response in Infectious Diseases, as well as the rapid development of diagnostics, treatment and vaccines. The participation in outbreak response forms part of my clinical duties - both in the management of ongoing outbreaks, such as diphtheria, as well as more acute diseases, such as viral hemorrhagic fever. Yet more future outbreaks may lie ahead.

Other diseases, such as Hepatitis B, remain underdiagnosed in less affluent areas, such as Africa. This results in significant morbidity and mortality related to the disease.

Antimicrobial stewardship has lately become much more relevant in the setting of the global spread of severely resistant infectious organisms. My contribution is weekly ward rounds with staff in ICU's and staff, focusing on this issue.

I have also an interest in both equitable access to effective treatments, as well as the development of new treatments. Regarding the latter, I have participated in clinical trials, already from before starting my career in Infectious Diseases.