DR JOY SHACKLETON RECOMMENDED AS NEW HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRIC AND RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY

Dr Joy Shackleton of the School of Oral Health Sciences has been recommended by the Faculty Selection Committee for appointment as Head of Department of Paediatric and Restorative Dentistry in the School of Oral Health Sciences at the level of Adjunct Professor.

Joy has been a pillar in the Faculty, having been Deputy Head of School for several years, holding the respect and affection of her students as an outstanding teacher, and gaining a reputation as a most accomplished administrator. Joy received a BDS from Wits in 1985, an MSc(Dent) in 1988 and an MDent in 1992, becoming a specialist prosthodontist. She has worked in the Department of Prosthodontics since graduating in 1985. She has extensive commitments to School and Faculty Committees. She is an external examiner for the Universities of Pretoria and MEDUNSA in prosthedontics and integrated clinical dentistry.

PROMOTION: PROFESSOR FRANCOIS VENTER

Francois Venter was recently appointed as an Associate Professor in the Faculty. He is also the Cluster Head, HIV Management Cluster, Reproductive Health and HIV Research Unit (RHRU) in the School of Clinical Medicine. Professor Venter is an infectious diseases physician but he also lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students across the Faculty. He is currently President of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society.

Francois qualified with a MBBCh in 1993, and an MMed in 2008. He has authored 13 (and co-authored 23) peer-reviewed papers and written two book chapters. Sharing his expertise in an even wider context, Francois has sat on many committees, panels and advisory boards, and has given numerous lectures around the world. He has served as a reviewer for several journals, and as co-editor for the Oxford Handbook of HIV Medicine. Recognition for some of his efforts has come in the form of awards such as the Bobby Grieve Research Award (2001), the Discovery Excellence Award - Most thought-provoking paper, 3rd South African AIDS Conference (2007), an award as one of the Top Influential Leaders at National Level - South African Institute of Health Care Managers (2008), and most recently, the Mail & Guardian?s ?100 young leaders you should take out to lunch? (2009).

His research centres largely on improving access to HIV care, but includes looking at the side effects of antiretrovirals, and improving the treatment of opportunistic infections. He has played a significant role in critically appraising and evaluating access to care and outcomes of people who do and do not access antiretrovirals. He has, in addition, participated in policy units to implement research findings.

Previous Appointments and Promotions

NEW ACADEMIC HEAD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE APPOINTED
Professor Sarala Naicker assumed the position of Academic Head of Internal Medicine on 1 January 2009.
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