Prof Leepile Sehularo, a professor of Psychiatry and Mental Health Nursing at the North-West University (NWU), has received the Nurse Researcher Award at the South African Nursing Council (SANC) Nursing Excellence Awards. The ceremony took place at The Capital Menlyn Maine in Pretoria on 8 November 2024.

This award celebrates significant contributions to nursing research and forms part of the SANC’s 80th anniversary.

Prof Sehularo, who serves as the director of the Lifestyle Diseases research focus area at the Mahikeng Campus of the NWU, has made an impact in the academic field. He has supervised eight PhD and 20 master’s-degree students at the NWU and the Shifa-Tameer-e-Millat University in Pakistan.

His academic achievements include delivering research presentations at national and international conferences and publishing over 70 articles in accredited journals, along with two book chapters. His research focuses on mental health nursing and lifestyle medicine.

Reflecting on the recognition, Prof Sehularo expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment. “It is an honour and privilege to be recognised among colleagues, peers and mentors in the nursing profession,” he said. “This award means I am moving in the right direction and emboldens me to continue with nursing research.”

His work in nursing research is aimed at advancing knowledge and practices in mental health and lifestyle diseases. Through his research and mentorship, he contributes to shaping the future of nursing in South Africa and beyond.

The Nurse Researcher Award underscores the importance of research in addressing challenges in healthcare.

Prof Leepile Sehularo received the Nurse Researcher Award at the South African Nursing Council Nursing Excellence Awards.