Wits University Division of Radiation Oncology

26/02/2026

There are days in medicine that quietly affirm why we do what we do.

Today, the Wits University Division of Radiation Oncology had the privilege of performing prostate Low-Dose-Rate (LDR) brachytherapy in close collaboration with our colleagues from the Urology team at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.

What began in 2021 as a vision — to establish a sustainable, high-quality prostate brachytherapy service within the public sector — continues to flourish.

LDR brachytherapy is a technically demanding, precision-driven treatment that requires seamless coordination between radiation oncologists, urologists, medical physicists, theatre staff and nursing teams. It is the embodiment of multidisciplinary care: real-time imaging, meticulous planning, careful implantation, and the shared commitment to achieving optimal oncological outcomes with minimal toxicity.

Programmes do not “stay strong” by accident. They endure because teams show up — consistently, collaboratively, and with purpose.

Today was a reminder that when institutions work together, when specialties align around a common goal, and when patient care remains the central focus, excellence becomes sustainable.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our Urology colleagues at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, and to every member of the theatre and physics teams who make these procedures possible.

Precision. Partnership. Persistence.

24/02/2026

Dr Gayathri Raveendran, Radiation Oncologist in the Gastrointestinal Oncology Unit of the Wits University Division of Radiation Oncology will be presenting at the upcoming AFROC–International Cancer Institute Virtual Multidisciplinary Tumour Board on 5 March 2026.

Dr Raveendran’s presentation, “Tumour Length as a Practical Marker: Lessons Learnt from a Case of Oesophageal Cancer Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy,” reflects the very essence of thoughtful, evidence-based oncology. In an era of precision medicine, her work highlights how careful clinical observation, intelligent interpretation of imaging, and multidisciplinary collaboration can refine our approach to complex GI malignancies.

The AFROC Virtual Tumour Board represents a powerful platform for continental and global exchange — bringing together expertise from across Africa and Europe in the service of better patient care. That Dr Raveendran has been invited to contribute to this forum is a testament not only to her clinical acumen, but also to her commitment to advancing oncologic knowledge beyond our own walls.

Grab your seat for this webinar today! Visit t.ly/zG8Oc to register.

13/02/2026

What a moment of pride — not just for Gauteng Health, but for every clinician, nurse, physicist, therapist, administrator and patient who refused to accept that long waiting lists were inevitable.

This week’s Gauteng Department of Health News Bulletin highlights a milestone many once thought impossible: the elimination of the cancer treatment backlog in our province.

At the Wits University Division of Radiation Oncology, we’ve had the privilege of being right at the coalface of this transformation — re-engineering services, embracing evidence-based hypofractionation, leveraging technology and innovation, strengthening multidisciplinary teamwork, and relentlessly focusing on what matters most: getting patients treated safely, effectively, and on time.

This achievement did not happen by chance.
It reflects bold leadership, the Provincial Cancer Plan’s long-term vision, smart use of resources, and the extraordinary commitment of frontline healthcare workers across Gauteng’s academic hospitals — including Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph, Chris Hani Baragwanath, Steve Biko and Dr George Mukhari.

Over the past few years we have shown that even in resource-constrained environments, world-class oncology care is possible when strategy, innovation and purpose align:
✔️ Modernised radiotherapy workflows
✔️ Reduced waiting times through hypofractionation
✔️ Smarter patient tracking and prioritisation
✔️ Strong public-private and academic partnerships
✔️ A renewed focus on prevention, early detection and integrated cancer care

Most importantly — thousands of patients who once faced dangerous delays are now receiving timely, life-saving treatment.

This is what health system transformation looks like.
This is what collaboration achieves.
And this is only the beginning.

We are proud to be part of this journey — and even more motivated to continue building an oncology service defined by access, excellence, innovation and compassion for every patient we serve.

👏 Congratulations to Gauteng Department of Health leadership, our clinical teams, partners, and communities.
Together, we are changing the cancer story in South Africa.

09/02/2026

The Division of Radiation Oncology at the University of the Witwatersrand was proud to play an active role in the highly successful ESMO Summit Africa, held this past weekend in Cape Town.

The programme was outstanding — clinically rich, thought-provoking, and truly reflective of the evolving landscape of cancer care across the African continent. The meeting was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended and provided invaluable opportunities for learning, collaboration, and shared purpose.

Some highlights for our department included:

✨ The Prostate Cancer Workshop, co-chaired by our Head of Department, Prof Duvern Ramiah, alongside Dr Deborah Mukerjee, GU medical oncology specialist from Clemenceau Medical Centre, Dubai

🎓 Excellent clinical case presentations by our registrars, including:
• Dr Neo Molapisi on prostate radiosurgery
• Dr Olivia Cannon on a palliative oncology case
• Dr Luqman Sikander on prostate cancer management

We are immensely proud of our team for representing Wits with such professionalism, clinical insight, and academic excellence.

A sincere thank you to ESMO for their continued commitment to Global Oncology and for their unwavering support in advancing high-quality cancer care across Africa.

Here’s to strengthening partnerships, growing expertise, and improving outcomes for our patients across the continent. 💪🎗️

04/02/2026

🌟 Turning the Tide on Radiotherapy Backlogs at Wits Radiation Oncology 🌟
For many years, long waiting times for radiotherapy in the public sector were an unfortunate reality — delaying care for patients who needed treatment urgently.
Today, we are proud to share a very different story.
Through evidence-based oncology, strategic service redesign, modern technology, and innovative clinical approaches, the Wits University Division of Radiation Oncology has made remarkable strides in dramatically reducing – and in many cases eliminating – historic radiotherapy backlogs.
📉 Smarter scheduling and workflow optimisation
📊 Adoption of hypofractionated, evidence-based treatment protocols
🤖 Advanced planning techniques and modern radiation technology
🤝 Strong multidisciplinary collaboration
🚀 A relentless focus on efficiency without ever compromising quality or safety
The result?
More patients treated sooner. Better outcomes. Restored dignity in cancer care.
This journey has required hard work from an extraordinary team of radiation therapists, physicists, oncologists, nurses, administrators, and partners — all united by a single goal: ensuring timely, world-class cancer treatment for every patient who walks through our doors.
We are immensely proud of how far we have come — and even more excited about where we are going.
Because access delayed should never mean care denied.
💙

20/12/2025

Today, the Wits University Division of Radiation Oncology proudly celebrates 20 years of dedicated service by Dr Faiza Mahomed at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

Over two decades, Dr Mahomed has been a cornerstone of our department — exemplifying unwavering dedication to the public sector. Her contribution to the treatment of patients in our public hospitals has been profound, impacting countless lives with skill, empathy, and integrity.

Equally important has been her role in the teaching and mentorship of generations of radiation oncology registrars, helping shape the future of our specialty.

Working in the public sector is often challenging, demanding resilience, sacrifice, and steadfast purpose. We applaud Dr Mahomed’s principled decision to devote her career to this noble cause, and we honour the moral courage and professionalism she brings to her work every single day.

Congratulations, Dr Mahomed, on this remarkable milestone. Your service, dedication, and legacy continue to inspire us all. 💙

14/12/2025

The Wits University Division of Radiation Oncology is proud to be part of the 15th Paediatric Brain Tumour Workshop, a landmark meeting that continues to bring together clinicians from across Africa to advance the care of children and young adults with central nervous system (CNS) tumours.

Now in its fifteenth year, this workshop has become a cornerstone of paediatric neuro-oncology education on the continent — fostering collaboration, sharing real-world clinical experience, and strengthening multidisciplinary care in resource-diverse settings.

The theme for 2025, “Highlighting the AYA Agenda in Neurooncology,” placed a much-needed spotlight on adolescents and young adults, a group whose unique clinical, biological, and psychosocial needs are increasingly recognised as a global priority.

Pictured here are internationally respected leaders in paediatric neuro-oncology:
• Dr Daniel Moreira (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)
• Prof Victor Santana
• Dr Ibrahim Qaddoumi (St Jude Children’s Research Hospital)
• Prof Simon Bailey (Nottingham, UK)
• Dr Racheal Angom
• Dr Ernestina Schandorf
• Dr Greg Wheeler (Australia)
• Dr Thandeka Ngcane

We are especially proud that Wits University was represented by our paediatric radiation oncologist, Dr Thanushree Naidoo, whose participation reflects our division’s ongoing commitment to excellence in paediatric oncology, global collaboration, and education.

Workshops like these exemplify the power of shared knowledge, partnership, and purpose — all in service of improving outcomes for children and young people with brain tumours across Africa and beyond.

14/12/2025

This week, the Wits University Division of Radiation Oncology came together for our year-end lunch — a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate a year defined by hard work, resilience, and remarkable achievement.

2025 has been an extraordinary year for our division. Our clinicians and academic staff have produced numerous peer-reviewed publications, delivered high-impact presentations at local and international conferences, and played leading roles in organising and chairing scientific meetings that continue to shape oncology practice in South Africa and beyond.

Most importantly, we are immensely proud of the significant strides made this year in reducing the radiotherapy backlog, ensuring that more patients receive timely, life-saving treatment. This progress reflects innovation, teamwork, long hours, and an unwavering commitment to patient-centred care — even in the face of constrained resources.

The doctors pictured here represent the heart of this achievement. Their clinical excellence, academic leadership, and dedication to service have directly translated into better access to care and improved outcomes for our patients.

As we close out 2025, we do so with gratitude, pride, and renewed determination for the year ahead. Together, we continue to build a division defined by excellence, compassion, and impact.

👏 Well done to the entire Wits Radiation Oncology team.
Here’s to an even stronger 2026.

05/12/2025

We are proud to share the publication of an important new study in BMJ Open titled “Treatment patterns, care delays and outcomes in advanced cervical cancer”—authored by members of our department including Dr Ayeni, Dr Mmereki, Dr Mistry, Prof Grover and Prof Ramiah, in collaboration with colleagues across Wits and the University of Pennsylvania.

This study establishes one of the first comprehensive cervical cancer cohorts in Johannesburg, shining a light on real-world treatment patterns, delays, and survival outcomes for women with advanced disease—an area of urgent public health need in South Africa. The findings will help shape better care pathways, inform national policy, and strengthen efforts to reduce the cervical cancer burden.

We are especially proud of the strong multidisciplinary collaboration between Wits Radiation Oncology, Wits Public Health, and Penn Radiation Oncology, demonstrating the power of global partnerships to advance equitable cancer care.

Congratulations to the entire team on this impactful contribution.

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18/11/2025

Our Head of Department, Prof. Duvern Ramiah, had the privilege of attending and contributing to the Africa Tech Festival, where leaders across the continent convened to explore how technology can accelerate equity in healthcare.

Prof. Ramiah participated in a powerful panel focusing on leveraging digital innovation and AI to reduce inequality in breast cancer treatment across Africa — an issue deeply aligned with the mission and values of our division.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Roche for their visionary leadership in convening this dialogue and for championing a future in which technology becomes a catalyst for access rather than a barrier. Under the bold and collaborative leadership of
🔹 Thom Renwick — MD, Roche South Africa, and
🔹 Maturin Tchoumi — Roche Pharma Head, Africa,
the message was clear: innovation must be purpose-driven, patient-centred and available to every woman, everywhere.

It was an honour for our Head of Department to share this platform alongside one of the continent’s most influential advocates for breast cancer care, Prof. Carol-Ann Benn, and a powerhouse network of partners equally committed to changing the trajectory of cancer in Africa.

Together — academia, industry, and health systems — we are building the momentum needed to ensure that where a patient lives never determines the quality of care they receive.

The Wits Division of Radiation Oncology remains committed to this mission and proud to stand alongside collaborators who share this vision.

The official site of the Wits Division of Radiation Oncology

06/11/2025

We are delighted to congratulate Dr Oluwatosin Ayeni, one of our senior registrars in Radiation Oncology, for her outstanding achievement at the AORTIC 2025 Conference held in Hammamet, Tunisia.

Dr Ayeni presented her research to an international audience and was awarded a Certificate for a High-Scoring Abstract, recognizing the exceptional quality and impact of her work. She received her certificate from the AORTIC President, Dr Miriam Mutebi, and AORTIC Secretary-General, Dr Hannah Ayetey, during the closing ceremony.

Her accomplishment reflects the Division’s continued commitment to advancing cancer care through research, education, and global collaboration. 🌍✨

Congratulations, Dr Ayeni — your dedication and excellence make us all ! 💙💫

02/10/2025

The Wits Division of Radiation Oncology is proud to celebrate Dr. Oluwatosin Ayeni, who has been awarded the 2025 ASTRO–BCRF Annual Meeting Trainee Travel Award at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in San Francisco. 🏆✈️

This prestigious award supports promising registrars in radiation oncology and provides them with the opportunity to engage with the global oncology community, share their work, and bring back invaluable insights to strengthen cancer care in South Africa.

We are deeply grateful to ASTRO and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) for their commitment to fostering the next generation of oncology leaders.

Congratulations Dr. Ayeni — your achievement shines a light on the talent and dedication of our registrars and the future of African oncology. 🌟