This year, the Sceales Antrobus Cancer Research Trust is bringing the renowned Dr Krishna B Clough to our African soil. He is a world leader in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery, having been instrumental in its creation and subsequently developing the classification of oncoplastic surgery techniques which is considered the reference paper in this field.
He spent more than 15 years in the French public system, and was the Chief of Surgery at the Institut Curie in 1996 at the age of 38. In 2004, he left the Institut Curie to create the Paris Breast Centre, France’s first private Breast Centre, which now hosts 7 breast surgeons and a multidisciplinary team of 20 physicians dedicated to the care of women with breast cancer, in addition to benign breast disease, and cosmetic breast surgery.
Dr Clough is a dually qualified surgical oncologist and a plastic surgeon and has focused on offering patients the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach whilst limiting the side effects of each of the treatments applied.
His clinical research aims at developing a global surgical expertise for breast surgery, from non-palpable breast cancer to all types of breast reconstruction, including all possible surgical procedures for diagnosis, treatment and reconstructive surgery of the breast.
With more than 160 articles in international peer reviewed journals, his clinical research continues in the busiest private practice in France. He has been invited to present at all major international conferences and will be joining us at this year’s BIGOSA Scientific Meeting. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn more directly from this remarkable leader in person.
Professor Georgia Demetriou, a Medical Oncologist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, serves as the Academic Head of Medical Oncology and a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand.
She is the acting Head of the Department of Medical Oncology at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and maintains a private practice at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre. Prof Demetriou has managed a General Medicine Teaching Unit for a decade and oversees 130 junior medical staff as the intern and community service medical officer curator.
As an examiner, she evaluates both undergraduate medical students and postgraduates at The College of Medicine in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine. She is a Director and Chairperson of the South African Oncology Consortium (SAOC) Board and treasurer of the South African Medical Oncology Society. With numerous publications and a focus on female and gastrointestinal malignancies, she has been a principal investigator in pivotal clinical trials and contributes to international advisory boards.
Dr Prashni Govender matriculated in 1999 and then proceeded to join University of Kwa-Zulu Natal where she completed her undergraduate medical training(MBchB) in 2005, graduating summa cum Laude.
From here she joined the department of anatomical pathology at Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital to begin post graduate training in 2007. She completed FCpath (anatomical pathology) in 2012.
Her work continued at the NHLS as a specialist consultant involved in service delivery, registrar training and undergraduate lectures. In 2015 she joined Lancet Laboratories as a specialist histopathologist. She is actively involved in histopathology as well as frozen section work.
Somantha Lazarus is a dedicated radiotherapist with over 20 years of experience in radiation oncology.
As a unit manager at Busamed Hillcrest Oncology, she leads a skilled team in delivering advanced, patient-centred radiotherapy care. With expertise in cutting-edge techniques such as IGRT, IMRT, VMAT and stereotactic treatments, Somantha is committed to clinical excellence, innovation and improving patient outcomes.
Her leadership is marked by professionalism, compassion and strong focus on team development. Somantha is also a loving wife and proud mum of two. True to the saying dynamite comes in small packages” she brings energy, precision and heart to everything she does-in and out of work.
Dr Nonjabulo Makhanya is a Senior Consultant Radiologist at Steve Biko Academic Hospital with over 15 years of experience in Diagnostic Imaging. She has a special interest in Mammography and breast interventions, with a strong focus on improving patient care and outcomes in the public sector.
Dr Makhanya is passionate about advancing breast imaging, particularly in the areas of early cancer detection and minimally invasive breast intervention techniques. She has attended international breast conferences and has had the honour of demonstrating breast biopsy techniques at an international Breast Oncology Masterclass.
She has a commitment to clinical excellence and teaching in the field of Mammography and General Radiology. In addition to her clinical work, Dr Makhanya has contributed to academic research with 7 publications and a total of 42 citations, underscoring her desire for continuous professional development.
Dr Seshini Naidoo is a dedicated Clinical Oncologist. She completed her FCRadOnc(SA) at Tygerberg hospital in the Western Cape and MMed from Stellenbosch University, before moving back home to Durban.
With a career spanning both the public and private healthcare sectors, Dr. Naidoo brings a wealth of experience to her current role as Consultant at the Oncology Gynae clinic at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Durban.
She is involved in registrar teaching and examinations, and passionate about research and radiotherapy.
Dr. Naidoo is an advocate for equity in oncology services and continues to work toward improving outcomes for women across South Africa.
Dr Diana Pillay completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Natal in 1992. She earned a Diploma in Child Health in 1994 and a Diploma in Anaesthetics in 1995. She obtained her Fellowship in Radiation Oncology (FC Rad Onc) from the College of Medicine of South Africa in 2000 and her Master of Medicine in Radiotherapy and Oncology (MMed) through the University of Kwazulu-Natal in 2002.
In 2020, Dr Pillay enrolled for a degree in Bioethics and Health Law through the University of Witwatersrand. She earned her MMed MSc (Bioethics and Health Law) in 2022. In 2024, Dr Pillay obtained a Master’s in Molecular Oncology through the Bioscience Centre in Spain. Dr Pillay joined Hopelands Cancer Centre in 2003. Hopelands Cancer Centre offers comprehensive cancer care throughout KwaZulu-Natal, with Dr Pillay having serviced the South Coast since 2003. She was part of the team that assisted the public sector oncology clinics between 2019 and 2020. She regularly delivers lectures on medical ethics and advances in oncology. When not working, Dr Pillay enjoys playing the piano and guitar, reading and doing yoga.
Lalitha Pillay is an experienced Ultrasound Technologist and Clinical Educator with a solid foundation in ultrasound physics, practical mastery of knobology, and extensive hands-on experience in a variety of clinical settings.
Skilled in optimising imaging protocols, educating staff and students, and delivering high-quality diagnostic scans in general, vascular, obstetric, and breast ultrasound. Lalitha is known for a methodical and patient-centred approach, as well as a commitment to image quality and continuous professional development.
Dr Peter Schoub qualified as a doctor in 1998, and as a radiologist in 2007. For the last 15 years he has focus on breast radiology.
Dr Schoub established the Parklane Women’s Imaging Center in 2012. The center became the first American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited unit in South Africa in 2017, and was awarded the Breast Imaging Centre of Excellence designation in 2022. The mammography department has recently moved to a new home at Melrose Arch.
Dr Schoub participates in several multidisciplinary breast cancer teams around Johannesburg. With the context of the team, Dr Schoub works closely with surgeons and oncologists, assisting with diagnosis, staging, monitoring tumour response and presurgical localisation. He has recently introduced cryoablation for small breast cancers into the unit.
Dr Schoub obtained the European Diploma of Breast Imaging in 2018. He is the chairperson of the Breast Imaging Society of South Africa (BISSA), and is an honorary lecturer in the department of Radiology at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Dr. Ronwyn van Eeden is a Medical Oncologist in private practice in Rosebank, Johannesburg. She is also a previous honorary consultant in Medical Oncology at the Chris Hani Academic Hospital / University of the Witwatersrand. She currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology and is on the executive committee for BIGOSA (Breast Interest Group of South Africa) and COSisOSA (Cardio-Oncology Society of South Africa).
She is an active member of the IASLC (International Association for Studies in Lung Cancer). She was also international co-chair for the first IASLCA PACLC (Pan-Africa Conference for Lung Cancer) held in Ghana, Africa.
Dr. van Eeden has several peer-reviewed journal publications, presents at many local and international meetings and symposia and serves on local advisory boards. She mostly does talks and symposia for work in Lung Cancer. She also has a special interest in breast cancer as well as immuno-oncology and precision medicine.
Dr. Johan van Heerden is based at Cintocare Hospital, Menlyn Maine, Pretoria. He is part of the Multi-Disciplinary Breast Cancer Team at Life Groenkloof Hospital.
He recently passed the Certificate of Competence in Breast Cancer with the European School of Oncology. He regularly presents at congresses, Journal Clubs and CPD events.
With a keen interest in Breast Reconstruction, he has been in Private Practice for 15 years. Dr van Heerden strongly believes that all women with breast cancer should at least be offered the different options of reconstruction before surgery, for them to make an informed choice.
He qualified as a Fellow of the College of Plastic Surgeons of South Africa and completed his MMed in 2010. He published two articles as Registrar in Plastic Surgery – notably, one being a comparative study of suturing materials and the other one on Biofilm formation on silicone breast implant material.