*This article is in partnership with the DSSA (Dermatology Society of South Africa) and SASDS (South African Society For Dermatologic Surgery)
Find a Dermatologist www.dermatology.co.za
Promoting the science and practice of dermatology in South Africa through education and mentoring.
With great excitement, we’d like to introduce the Dermatological Society of South Africa (DSSA). They’ve been operating since 1946 and aim to promote the science and practice of dermatology in South Africa through education and mentoring. The society believes this plays an important role in the requirements for future dermatological education for both undergraduates and graduates.
Follow their page on Instagram @dermatology_society_of_sa to stay updated with news, events and industry related topics from specialists in the field.
We’d also like to introduce the Exco members. They are responsible to promote the science and practice of dermatology and to define and establish relationships among dermatologists and hospitals, public and private institutions, government authorities, medical schemes, the medical profession generally, and the public.
They are also responsible for organising dermatological congresses and scientific meetings, with a term of office is two years.
Pictured here is:
President Dr Noufal Raboobee @drnraboobee
Past President Dr Jonathan Smith
Secretary Dr Sarina Drusinsky @sarinablechinger
Treasurer Dr Willie Visser @drwilliederm
Exco Member Dr Nokubonga Khoza (not in pic) @drnokubongakhozaderm
Exco Member Dr Rannakoe Lehloenya @rannakoe
Vitiligo Society Representative Dr Raboobee
SASDS Representative Dr Sian Hartshorne @sianvandenhandel
Exco Member Dr Suretha Kannenberg @drskannenberg_dermatologistsa
Exco Member Dr Pieter du Plessis
Immediate Past President Dr Dagmar Whitaker @askdrwhitaker
Meet…
Dr Noufal Raboobee, current president of the DSSA and the Vitiligo Society of South Africa
Dr Noufal Raboobee
Dr Raboobee obtained his MBChB from the University of Natal in 1983 and his Fellowship in Dermatology from the College of Medicine of South Africa in 1989. He has been in private practice since then but remained attached to the University of KZN for 25 years, holding the posts of senior lecturer and visiting consultant at King Edward and Addington Hospitals. He has examined regularly for the College of Medicine of South Africa. Dr Raboobee has been as an Exco member of the Dermatology Society for the past 10 years.
His special interests lie in vitiligo and biologic treatments of psoriasis and eczema. He established the Vitiligo Society of South Africa in 2008 and is currently its president. He has facilitated the introduction of many novel surgical treatments for vitiligo to South Africa, has authored and co-authored several papers on vitiligo, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and written a book chapter on phototherapy. He is an Exco member of the Global Vitiligo Foundation and a member of International Vitiligo Working Group, which is currently writing up guidelines for the management of vitiligo. He is a guest editor for the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and the Indian Journal of Dermatology, as well as a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. He presents extensively at international congresses.
Dr Sarina Drusinsky, secretary of the DSSA
Dr Sarina Drusinsky
She obtained her MBChB from Stellenbosch University in 1980. After which she worked for two years in the Dept of Anatomical Pathology at Tygerberg Hospital. She obtained her MMed Dermatology (cum laude) in 1986 at Stellenbosch University.
Dr Drusinsky is in full-time private practice in East London and a part-time consultant in the Department of Dermatology, Frere Hospital. She has been a member of the Exco of the DSSA for over 14 years and its secretary for more than 10 years. She also sits on the Exco of the African Women’s Dermatologic Society for the past six years. Among her many accolades, she is the recipient of the Regional Business Woman Award, 2019 in the professionals category.
Her special interests are cancers of the skin as well as medical dermatology, dermatological surgery, dermatopathology and aesthetic dermatology. She is trained in injecting botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid and biostimulators.
Dr Willie Visser, head of Dermatology at Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, and treasurer of the DSSA
Dr Willie Visser
Dr Willie Visser earned his medical degree from Stellenbosch University and has completed both his master’s degrees in family medicine and dermatology at the University of the Free State. He has a passion for medical education and teaching, and his research focuses on inflammatory skin diseases and skin cancer, especially in patients with skin of colour.
Dr Visser has authored a number of publications and book chapters and delivered lectures, locally and internationally. Actively involved in a number of community projects and provides consulting services to peripheral hospitals and clinics.
Dr Pieter du Plessis, chairman of the South African Mohs Group and past president of the South African Society of Dermatologic Surgery (SASDS) and current exco member of the DSSA
Dr Pieter du Plessis
Dr Pieter du Plessis is a dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon in Pretoria. Qualifying as a medical doctor and then as a dermatologist at the University of Pretoria, he is a skin cancer surgeon specialising in Mohs micrographic surgery. As a senior registrar, he spent time in the Dermatologic Surgery Unit in Newcastle upon Tyne in the UK, where he trained in dermatologic surgery and formalin-fixed Mohs surgery.
After a year as a consultant in the Academic Department of Dermatology, he entered private practice in Pretoria with a focus on procedural dermatology. In 2013, he travelled to Cincinnati in the US, where he completed an ASDS ITMP Mohs Observational Fellowship with Dr Brett Coldiron, a Mohs surgeon and past President of the American College of Mohs Surgery as well as of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Dr Suretha Kannenberg, consultant dermatologist at the Division of Dermatology at Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Academic Hospital and current exco member of the DSSA
Dr Suretha Kannenberg
Dr Kannenberg earned her MBChB and MMed Dermatology (cum laude) from Stellenbosch University. She serves on the Excos of the DSSA, African Women’s Dermatologic Society and the Vitiligo Society of South Africa.
She has authored a number of publications and book chapters and features regularly in the media in public awareness campaigns. Dr Kannenberg lectures locally and internationally on topics close to her heart, which include atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, acne vulgaris and paediatric dermatology. She is also actively involved in a number of community projects in South Africa and spearheads patient support groups in atopic eczema and vitiligo.
Dr Dagmar Whitaker, president of Melanoma Society South Africa, vice president of the World Melanoma Society and immediate past president of the DSSA
Dr Dagmar Whitaker
Dr Whitaker is passionate about skin cancer prevention and treatment. She is a dermatologist in private practice in Cape Town. As president of the Melanoma Society of South Africa and vice president of the World Melanoma Society, she actively partakes in many national and international congresses to promote, educate and improve the management of skin cancer for the public as well as her patients. She also proudly represents the South African Dermatological Community on an international platform.
Dr Nokubonga Khoza, exco member of the DSSA, is a Durban-based specialist dermatologist in private practice specialising in healthy-looking skin, hair and nails.
Dr Nokubonga Khoza
Dr Khoza graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in 2003 and obtained her Fellowship from the College of Dermatologists of South Africa in 2011.
She is an Exco member of the DSSA and inaugural secretary of the African Women’s Dermatologic Society. A past Excomember of South African Society of Dermatologic Surgery (SASDS) and inaugural advisory committee member of the South African Epidermolysis Bullosa Interest Group (SAEBIG).
Her special research interests are pigmentation and hair disorders, acne and scar management, skin cancer management, cosmetic dermatology, HIV and the skin, paediatric dermatology, as well as immunobullous disease.
Dr Jonathan M Smith, MBChB(UCT), MMed(Derm)(Stell), has served on numerous pharmaceutical advisory boards and on the Exco of the DSSA since 2000, where he is also the past president.
Dr Jonathan M Smith
He obtained both his degrees cum laude and has published numerous articles in medical journals. He enjoys doing surgical procedures, mole screening, laser therapy, phototherapy, patch testing for contact allergy, micro-needling, botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid fillers, and several other aesthetic/cosmetic procedures.
Dr Sian Hartshorne, MBBCh (Wits), FC Derm (SA), MMed Derm, is the current president of the South African Society of Dermatologic Surgery (SASDS), a board member of the DSSA and AWDS, served on the South African Dermatology Congress Organising Committee for 2020/21, and serves as an honorary dermatology consultant for the Eden District of the Western Cape.
Dr Sian Hartshorne
Dr Hartshorne is the resident dermatologist at MediDerm in Plettenberg Bay. She tends to all skin-related needs such as skin cancer treatment and prevention, eczema and acne treatment, and mole scans.
Dr Rannakoe Lehloenya (Dr Ranks), BSc (NUL), MBChB (Medunsa) FCDerm (SA), is a registered dermatologist and an Exco member of the DSSA.
Dr Rannakoe Lehloenya (Dr Ranks)
He graduated from the National University of Lesotho with a BSc in 1989 and with an MBChB from Medunsa in 1997. After completing his internship and community service at Pretoria Academic Hospital and WK Knobel hospitals respectively, as well as a spell as a general practitioner, he went to UCT for his dermatology training.
He is currently a consultant dermatologist at Groote Schuur Hospital, senior lecturer in the Division of Dermatology at UCT, and the managing director of the Dermatology Treatment and Phototherapy Centre in Century City. Dr Ranks has a special interest in phototherapy, drug reactions, HIV, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
*This article is in partnership with the DSSA (Dermatology Society of South Africa) and SASDS (South African Society For Dermatologic Surgery)
Find a Dermatologist www.dermatology.co.za
Rochelle is the founder and driving force behind Aesthetic Appointment. With a passion for the aesthetics and pro-ageing industry in South Africa, she has been in the aesthetic publishing industry since 2012, dedicated to creating a valuable platform for insights and knowledge, bridging the gap between patients and doctors - delivering reliable, medical-based information. Rochelle firmly believes in the power of a good skincare regimen, especially when started at home, and is committed to educating consumers about the myriad of treatments, procedures, and products available to them.
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
- Rochelle Friedmanhttps://www.aestheticappointment.co.za/author/rochelle
