http://www.dgmc.co.za/contact-us

Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, 21 Eton Road, Parktown, Johannesburg (2026)

02/12/2025

Biliary atresia is a rare and serious liver condition that affects approximately 1 in 15,000–20,000 infants in South Africa. If unrecognised and untreated in the first weeks of life, it can lead to irreversible liver damage. Early diagnosis and timely intervention, including Kasai portoenterostomy and, where necessary, liver transplantation, significantly improve outcomes.

On Monday, 2 December, WDGMC invites colleagues, patients, families, and the wider community to show their support by wearing brightly coloured, deliberately mismatched socks. This simple act helps spark conversations and raises vital awareness of this little-known disease.

Please wear your odd socks on 2 December, share a photograph on social media, tag , and use the hashtags and .

Together, we can highlight the importance of recognising early signs (prolonged jaundice beyond 14 days, pale stools, and dark urine), support affected families, and advance research towards better treatments and, ultimately, a cure.

22/10/2025

At the WITS University Donald Gordon Medical Centre Radiation Oncology Unit, clinical excellence is fundamentally driven by a commitment to improving patient care. This dedication takes a significant step forward with the implementation of Brainlab ETDS – integrated with a TrueBeam® linear accelerator – ensuring enhanced precision and real-time motion tracking throughout radiotherapy sessions.

What is Surface Guided Radiotherapy?
Precision matters in cancer treatment. That's where Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) comes in. SGRT uses advanced 3D camera technology to continuously monitor a patient's position during radiotherapy treatment. By tracking thousands of surface points on the patient's body in real-time, this combined with Brainlab’s first-in-class thermal camera ensures patients remain in exactly the right position throughout each session.
Think of it as a sophisticated guidance system that helps deliver radiation with pinpoint accuracy.

Key Benefits for Patients:
• More comfortable treatment experience
• Reduced radiation exposure from imaging
• Real-time monitoring for peace of mind

Key Benefits for Treatment:
• Enhanced precision in radiation delivery
• Reduced treatment margins
• Ability to gate treatment with breathing
• Improved workflow efficiency

Brainlab's SGRT technology is versatile and can be used for:
• Breast cancer treatment (including Deep-Inspiration Breath-Hold)
• Lung cancer (with respiratory gating)
• Abdominal and pelvic treatments
• Certain Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) treatments

At the heart of modern radiotherapy is the commitment to treat cancer more precisely while protecting healthy tissue. Surface Guided Radiotherapy represents the next generation of patient care and treatment accuracy.

15/10/2025

Last week, colorectal cancer (CRC) researchers from WDGMC participated in the Wits-Bristol Cancer Workshop at the Sydney Brenner Institute of Molecular Biosciences, along with collaborators from the University of Bristol, Wits University, Wits Diagnostic Innovation Hub, the National Cancer Registry and the Global Colorectal Cancer Association. The workshop aimed to explore opportunities for collaboration in addressing the colorectal cancer burden in South Africa.

The 2-day workshop brought together clinicians, researchers, clinician-scientists, and CRC survivors and advocates to explore the genetic drivers of colorectal cancer, the gut microbiome and numerous research possibilities for early detection, screening, and prevention, as well as building resilient health systems to address the CRC disease burden.

Tackling diseases such as CRC requires cross-disciplinary and multinational collaboration. We look forward to seeing the research initiatives birthed from this workshop.

See the SBIMB's Linkedin post about the workshop here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sydney-brenner-institute-for-molecular-bioscience_this-week-we-hosted-the-wits-bristol-cancer-activity-7379897290880167936-IqZ0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAC7z0aEBaXvqaQnFLL4lkeSYo_M1yanEqr4

06/10/2025

KidneyGenAfrica is Pan-African partnership with a mission to standardise research methodologies across the continent, build capacity through targeted training and advance novel research into the genetic and environmental factors driving kidney function and disease.

This workshop will equip early- to mid-career researchers and clinician-scientists working in kidney disease across Africa with essential skills in:
• Kidney genomics
• GWAS
• Polygenic risk scores
• Multi-omics approaches
• Ethical and community considerations

Speakers and facilitators include Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre’s own Fabian and Prof Michele Ramsay (Sydney Brenner Institute of Molecular Bioscience).

The KidneyGenAfrica Consortium invites candidates to apply for the 5-day intensive course taking place between the 25th and 30th January 2026 at the University of the Witwatersrand. Applications close at midnight on the 19th October 2025. Flights, accommodation and meals will be covered.

For further details and to apply, visit https://www.kidneygenafrica.org/kidneygenafrica-training-workshop

Wits Faculty of Health Sciences

30/09/2025

We are proud to congratulate our dedicated doctors and staff for their participation in the Wits School of Clinical Medicine Research Day on the 18th September 2025. The team represented WDGMC in the oral and poster sessions (and helped adjudicate and plan the event).

Your passion for research not only strengthens our hospital’s mission but also contributes to better health outcomes for our community.

Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and continued pursuit of excellence in medicine and science.

Wits Faculty of Health Sciences
Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre

26/09/2025

My name is Lucy. Last year, I was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of twelve, and this is my story.

I had been experiencing pain in my left knee for about a couple of months. I eventually went for an MRI as the pain was not healing, no matter how many times I taped and iced my knee. The scan came back showing a big tumour along my left femur, and I was scheduled for a meeting with my surgeon the next day. It was frightening being told I had cancer, and it was very hard to process.

The next day, I was in surgery for a biopsy. Although the scan had shown the tumour, we didn't know if it was cancerous. Unfortunately, it was. The rest of the next few days I was allowed to leave hospital to rest, but not long after that, I was sent back to hospital for my first rounds of chemo.

It was really hard and scary in the beginning, but as the weeks went by, it got easier, and eventually I fell into a routine. Through all this treatment and surgery, my mum, dad, and brother, along with many other family members and friends, were by my side every step of the way. The nurses at the hospital were kind and funny and were good company when I was lonely. My amazing oncologist was the highlight of my mornings, and the night-time card games with my mum were the highlights of my evenings.

After three months of chemo, I was ready to have surgery to remove the tumour. This was a big surgery, as I was replacing my knee and thigh bone with a metal replica. When I woke up, I was tired and not at all myself, and it took a few days to get back to normal. I was on crutches for about three weeks, and soon I was walking again.

I had to return to hospital for five more months of chemo due to the possibility of the cancer cells escaping the tumour. The rest of the journey was brutal. It felt like it would never end, but with my closest friends and family, and the amazing nurses and doctors, and of course my mum, it felt like time was flying. Soon enough, it was my last bag of chemo, and it felt like the darkness had faded. Soon, I was ringing the bell and leaving the hospital for good!

That was a crazy day, the 7th of February 2025, but it was all over, and I am now happily in remission. Thank you for reading my crazy story on childhood cancer. I hope you learned a thing or two.

23/09/2025

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – a mother’s account

"As a mum who has walked this unimaginable road, I carry both the scars and the strength it gave me. I’ve watched my child fight battles most adults will never know. I’ve sat beside hospital beds praying for miracles, clung to hope when it felt like there was none, and learned that courage comes in the smallest bodies.

For every warrior, every angel, and every family still fighting - you are not alone". 💛🎗

15/09/2025

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting nearly 24 million people worldwide. One in 10 people over 65 live with Alzheimer’s, and this rises to almost 1 in 3 in those over 85.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be both rewarding and deeply challenging. It requires patience, routine, and effective communication—focusing on the person’s abilities while ensuring their safety and dignity.

Dr India Butler a geriatrician and the former vice-president of the Association of Geriatrics South Africa based at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, shares an important reminder:
“It can’t be done by one person. It takes a village. Caregivers who try to go it alone often become overwhelmed and stressed, sometimes to the detriment of their own health. It’s okay to seek help. Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s takes compassion, adaptability, and support. If you are a caregiver, know that you are not alone—reaching out for help is a strength, not a weakness. ”

Some Practical Care Tips:
✔️ Seek Support – Join caregiver groups and connect with others who understand.
✔️ Ask for Help – Allow family and friends to assist with meals, errands, or caregiving breaks.
✔️ Take Breaks – Protect your own well-being to avoid burnout.
✔️ Go with the Flow – Don’t argue over memory lapses; redirect gently and focus on comfort.

Creating a Supportive Environment:
• Establish routines to create familiarity and security.
• Encourage independence by breaking tasks into small steps.
• Focus on enjoyable activities at consistent times.
• Use tools like a memory book to spark recognition and joy.

Communication & Safety:
• Speak simply, clearly, and with respect.
• Avoid arguments—listen for the meaning behind the words.
• Adapt the environment rather than trying to change the person.
• Enhance home safety and consider tools like GPS bracelets to prevent wandering.

29/08/2025

We have been exploring several important topics during this Organ Donation Awareness Month. These include the life-saving benefits of organ donation, the process of living kidney donation, inspiring athletes competing at the World Transplant Games, and addressing common myths about religion and organ donation.

If you missed any of these articles, you can read them all here: https://linktr.ee/WITSDGMC

28/08/2025

Dr Portia Sigedle is a devoted paediatric oncologist with a passion for stem cell transplantation and cellular therapies. Her journey began with an MBChB from the University of Cape Town in 2007, followed by years of dedicated service in paediatrics.

From working on the paediatric liver transplant team at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, to specialising in paediatric oncology at Wits University under Prof Gita Naidu, Dr Sigedle has pursued her calling with both compassion and academic excellence.

Today, she plays a pivotal role at the Wits Donald Gordon Stem Cell and Cellular Therapy Centre, where she treats children facing cancer and blood disorders, and contributes to ground breaking research — including serving as a sub-investigator in a Phase 1 NK cell therapy clinical trial.

Dr Sigedle’s mission is clear: to advance transplantation in resource-limited settings, offering hope and life-changing treatments to children and their families.

This Women’s Month, we honour Dr Sigedle for her dedication, expertise, and tireless commitment to giving young patients a future filled with possibility.

26/08/2025

Dr Trudy Smith is a leading Gynaecology Oncologist based at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.

With qualifications including MBBCh, FCOG, and a Certificate in Gynaecology Oncology, Dr Smith’s career has been shaped by training and academic work at the University of the Witwatersrand, specialist registrar training at Helen Joseph Hospital, and subspecialty experience at Hammersmith Hospital, London. She has served as a consultant at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and is a Senior Lecturer at Wits University, where she leads research in the cervical colposcopy unit.

Her key areas of expertise include: Gynaecological malignancies; abnormal Pap smears & colposcopy; menopause and midlife women’s health.

Dr Smith’s passion lies in preventing cervical cancer, advancing women’s health, and training the next generation of Gynaecology Oncology fellows. She is deeply committed to evidence-based medicine and enjoys supporting women through the challenges of menopause. She has published several peer-reviewed articles, contributed a chapter of a book, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South African Menopause Society and a second award from the Haematology and Thrombotic Society for work in women’s health and clotting disorders. She is also involved in public educator through talks, seminars, and ladydocs.co.za.

Currently, she is part of CervSA, a local research project advancing colposcopy and cervical cancer prevention.

“I love my job – from teaching and research to patient care. Every day, I have the privilege of making a difference in women’s lives.” – Dr Trudy Smith.

25/08/2025

After nine years on the kidney transplant waiting list, Naomi Khumalo finally received the gift of life, a successful transplant at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.

Watch her inspiring journey in the video below and learn more about organ donation via the link in the comments.

Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre

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