Prof Lebo Gafane-Matemane, associate professor of Physiology and community engagement champion at the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) in the Faculty of Health Sciences, has been appointed as the new chair of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) Mentorship and Training Committee (MTC).
With her distinguished career marked by groundbreaking research and commitment to advancing knowledge on cardiovascular disease, she brings unparalleled experience to her new role. Having served as a member of the MTC for three years, her two-year appointment as the new chair highlights her deep dedication to addressing the global burden of hypertension through capacity building.
“My career trajectory has benefited immensely from being mentored by senior researchers in the field of hypertension,” says Prof Gafane-Matemane on her new appointment. She added: “It is such a privilege to be able to give back by facilitating development opportunities for young researchers, especially those with limited opportunities in their own countries.”
Prof Gafane-Matemane will be responsible for leading the MTC activities. The activities include the mentoring scheme, career development podcasts and other capacity-building activities in collaboration with other committees within the society.
More about Prof Gafane-Matemane
Prof Gafane-Matemane is the secretary of the South African National Committee of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. She is actively involved in community engagement activities at HART and serves as one of the executive directors of the Childhood Hypertension Consortium of South Africa. In addition to these accolades, she is a board member of the Southern African Hypertension Society.
Prof Gafane-Matemane’s other academic citizenship activities include mentoring of students and colleagues. She also serves on faculty committees and editorial boards of the Journal of Hypertension and the Journal of the American Heart Association, and is involved in other non-academic community development activities.
The ISH-MTC
The work of the MTC includes a mentorship scheme, podcasts, seminars and assistance in running the Capacity Building Network (CBN) activities of the ISH. This includes offering career development networking opportunities for early and mid-career researchers and those from under-represented backgrounds.
The ISH-MTC aims to promote the highest quality of science and practice in cardiovascular disease and hypertension throughout the world. For more information on the MTC, visit their website at: https://ish-world.com/mentorship/
Prof Lebo Gafane-Matemane
