The North-West University’s (NWU's) Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) is expanding their expertise in the field of psychology, neurology and biokinetics.

This multidisciplinary team applies leading scientific expertise to optimise the health, psychological well-being and performance of people ranging in age from infancy to adulthood.

These specialists will contribute significantly to the current evidence-based services and the vision of delivering a specialised, high-quality service to a wide range of clients.

The first expert in the field is Dr Gregory Lamb, a paediatric neurologist/paediatrician who has more than 10 years’ experience and has a keen interest in neuroscience, psychopathology and speech and language disorders in children.

He obtained numerous qualifications in this field and has been a speaker at several local and international conferences. His experience and expertise have led him to publish numerous articles about his work in various specialist publications.

His life goal is to bridge the gap and find better integration between neurology and psychology. His new role at the Institute of Psychology and Wellbeing will allow him to combine both worlds and maximise his impact by working closely with the team of psychologists and speech-language therapists to optimise the outcome for a variety of clients.

The second expert on the team is Dr Carla Groenewald, a specialist child and adolescent psychiatrist with more than 10 years’ experience in South Africa and the UK. She has a special interest in autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, family therapy and equine-assisted psychotherapy. 

She played a vital role in establishing the Autism Assessment Unit at the Institute of Psychology and Wellbeing. She is a permanent associate at the institute, while still tending to her private practice in Klerksdorp.

Ilse van Aardt will offer her expertise in clinical psychology. Since 2005 Ilse has obtained experience in the field of psychology at various hospitals. In 2007 she was granted senior clinical psychologist status at Tembisa Hospital, where she established the psychology department. From there she worked closely with inmates and patients from several institutions, building her expertise and experience to a high level.

Her background in the psychology units of hospitals led her to later communicate her knowledge to students studying for postgraduate qualifications in this field, and to produce publications in this area.

Cor Leijenaar, triathlon athlete and biokineticist at the Institute for Biokinetics, is an established member of the institute, but is now welcomed as an official employee of the CHHP.

These new appointments will allow the Centre for Health and Human Performance to grow and improve its skills and services to an innovative level in its field.

Dr Gregory Lamb.                                 Dr Carla Groenewald.

Ilse van Aardt.                                       Cor Leijenaar.