Speakers
WELCOME ADDRESS
Dr Keith Cloete (South Africa)
Dr Cloete was appointed as Head of Health for the Western Cape Government on 1 April 2020. Dr Keith Cloete was appointed as DDG: Chief of Operations for Western Cape Government: Health, effective 1 March 2015. He was the Chief Director for Metro District Health Services since 2007 and prior to that, the Director: HIV/ AIDS/ STI and TB since 2003. He is a qualified medical doctor and has worked as a medical officer at various health facilities in the Western Cape Government: Health from 1989 to 1996, and as a Chief Medical Officer in Public Health Programmes in the Cape Metro Region from 1996 to 2003. He has extensive experience of working in the Western Cape Public Health sector in many different capacities over the past 26 years. He is a founding member of Western Cape Reference Group for Health Promoting Schools and is involved in numerous inter-sectorial initiatives which address a wide range of issues affecting the health of communities in the Cape Metropole, including hygiene and sanitation projects in various informal settlement communities. Since 2017 he has been closely involved with the Whole of Society Approach (WoSA) on behalf of the Western Cape Government: Health, a multi-sectoral approach across the Provincial Departments for collaborative action across all spheres of government and sectors, guided by a shared purpose to impact meaningfully on the lives of citizens. He has been involved in a range of leadership interventions towards a more resilient and people-centred Department, as part of a collective learning journey. Dr Keith Cloete’s qualifications include a MBChB degree at the University of Cape Town, a Postgraduate Diploma in Child Health (SA), the Oliver Tambo Fellowship and a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Management (with distinction) and a range of short-courses.
Keynotes and Instructional Courses
Dr Thomas Cook (USA)
Professor, Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa.
Prof Thomas Cook is the Director of Global Operations for Ponseti International and received an MS degree in Physical Therapy from Duke University, an MS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University, and a PhD in Human Factors Engineering from The University of Iowa. He was previously Director of the Biomechanics Research Laboratory at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia. He is a former Fulbright Scholar and currently Professor Emeritus in Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science and Public Health at the University of Iowa. He has authored or co-authored more than one hundred peer-reviewed papers as well as co-authored a textbook and several book chapters. He has managed research and training projects or lectured in more than forty-five countries and is a founding member of the Rotarian Action Group for Clubfoot, a co-founder of the non-profit Clubfoot Solutions, one of the developers of the Iowa Brace, and a member of the organizing committee for three International Clubfoot Symposiums.
Dr Matthew Dobbs (USA)
MD, FACS, FAAOS, FAOA
Director Dobbs Clubfoot Center, Paley Institute, Florida USA
Dr. Dobbs specializes in pediatric orthopaedic surgery and is the founder and director of the Ponseti Clubfoot Treatment Clinic. He is nationally and internationally recognized for his clinical work, research, and innovation and is consistently listed in Best Doctors in America. Clinically his focus on minimally invasive surgery led to the development of a novel treatment for congenital vertical talus which like the Ponseti method for clubfoot treatment avoids extensive surgery. He is currently President of the United States Bone and Initiative, President of the International Federation of Pediatric Orthopaedic Societies, Secretary of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons, and Research Academy Chair for SICOT. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, Miraclefeet, and the Missouri State Orthopaedic Association, and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. He is currently Chair of Grants for the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation, and Treasurer for the Missouri State Orthopaedic Association. He and his team are actively searching for the genetic factors responsible for clubfoot, scoliosis, and other musculoskeletal anomalies. Along with Dr. Christina Gurnett, Dr. Dobbs is co-director of the Washington University Musculoskeletal Genetics Laboratory, which is NIH RO1 funded. Dr. Dobbs earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1995. Following a residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, he completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis.
Dr Ryno Du Plessis (SA)
MBChB, MBBS, Post Graduation (SA)
Consultant Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon.
Dr. Ryno du Plessis is a renowned Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon in South Africa. He has been practicing for the past 40 years. His areas of expertise are Paediatric & Reconstructive Orthopaedics. He completed his MBChB in 1982 and MMed in Orthopaedics in 1999 from the University of Stellenbosch.
Prof Jacques du Toit (SA)
MBChB (SUN), FC Orth (SA), MSc. (Clin. Epi.) (SUN), PhD (Orth. Surg.) (SUN)
Head of Orthopaedic Surgery: Stellenbosch University
Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon, Steps Medical Director MBChB (SUN), FC Orth (SA), MSc. (Clin. Epi.) (SUN), PhD (Orth. Surg.) (SUN). Head of Division of Orthopaedics, University of Stellenbosch, Head of Lady Michaelis Paediatric Orthopaedic Unit, Tygerberg Hospital. Ponseti faculty trainer (FT). Better known as ‘Vaatjie’, Prof du Toit attended STEPS Ponseti training in 2006 and 2007 and started the Ponseti clubfoot clinic at Tygerberg Hospital. He assists secondary hospitals to set up clubfoot clinics. Dr du Toit attended the 2011 Steps South African planning meeting in Uganda with Karen Moss. In 2012 he was co-organiser of the SAPOS 2012 Ponseti instructional course at the Stellenbosch Tygerberg medical campus. He was the chairman of the faculty for the STEPS 2013 Ponseti training in Botswana, Namibia and STEPS 2014 Ponseti training in Seychelles. Prof du Toit has published research and presented papers on clubfoot treatment on the Ponseti Method. Prof du Toit works closely with STEPS on clubfoot treatment using Ponseti as the treatment of choice. He coordinates STEPS partnership with the South African Paediatric Orthopaedic Society, advises on medical protocol, pathway of care guidelines, and collaborates on training and planning for capacity building in southern Africa.
Dr Helen Malherbe (SA)
PhD, MSc, BSc (hons)
Director: Research & Epidemiology, Rare Diseases South Africa NPC
Helen has been the Director of Research and Epidemiology at Rare Diseases South Africa (RDSA) since April 2020. She became a part of the congenital disorder (CD) and rare disease community in 2004 after the loss of her daughter to Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) and established a contact point for families affected by the same condition (www.trisomy18.org.za). She served as Chair of Genetic Alliance South Africa (GA-SA) from 2014 to 2020, then moving to RDSA in April 2020 following integration of GA-SA into RDSA. Helen was the winner of the Rare Diamond in Advocacy award in 2018.
Helen’s patient advocacy work is underpinned by her academic work. Since completing her PhD on the renewed need for the care and prevention of CD at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), Helen has completed five years of post-doctoral study at UKZN and the University of Pretoria. She continues to supervise post-graduate students at various academic institutions and to expand her publication record, with 19 peer reviewed articles published to date. She is an active member of numerous international and local bodies, including the Southern African Society of Human Geneticists (SASHG), key World Health Organization (WHO) panels and committees and the South African Department of Health Human Genetics Technical Working Group.
Karen Moss (SA)
Founder and Executive Director Steps Charity NPC.
In July 2005, Karen diversified her career portfolio to include community work and social welfare. A passionate vision, driven by her son being born with bilateral clubfoot, led her to establish STEPS Charity NPC in South Africa. Specialities: With reference to her work with clubfoot, Karen’s special interest is patient care and the role of the parent. She has written education materials to support and motivate parents and caregivers to adhere to treatment. Her advocacy work is focused on building a strong clubfoot community, improving communication between key stakeholders, and publicity campaigns to remove the stigma and ignorance that is associated with clubfoot. Karen considers all aspects of clubfoot treatment and the patient experience and creates innovative solutions to barriers and challenges in resource restricted countries. She has developed an award-winning clubfoot care support programme in southern Africa that successfully implements a method from the United States within the South African state health sector.
Dr Isidor Ngayomela (Tanzania)
MD & Master of Medicine in Orthopaedics & Trauma: MMed Orthopaedics
Orthopaedic Surgeon : Lecturer in Orthopaedics and Trauma at the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciencies, CUHAS, Retired Head of Department of Orthopaedics at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Project Director for Bugando Clubfoot Care Project (BCCP), and faculty member for Ponseti International Association (PIA), Lake Zone Representative – Tanzania Surgical Association (TSA). Founding member and adviser, Tanzania Clubfoot Care Organisation (TCCO), 36 member clinics nationally. Retired Head of Department of Surgery at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) Mwanza, Tanzania. Accredited Trainer for Ponseti Method by CURE International, Member College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). Various Ponseti training workshops delivered, including Basic & Advanced Ponseti course Addis Ababa 2016, Ponseti Method of Clubfoot Treatment Training Dar es Salaam 2008, Moshi 2008, Awolowo University, Nigeria 2009, URRC, Arusha 2012, CURE, Kigali-Rwanda, 2013, and Namibia 2013. Presented papers at International Clubfoot Symposium, Iowa-USA September 2007, and International Clubfoot Symposium, Iowa City-USA October, 2012.
Dr Monica Nogueira (Brazil)
Master of Health Sciences: Ph.D Faculty of Public Health
Ph.D Pediatric Orthopaedics, Bone Lengthening and Reconstruction: Hospital Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo.
Dr Monica Nogueira graduated in medicine at the medical school of the University of São Paulo (1995), Master of Health Sciences by the Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (2003) and Ph.D by the Faculty of Public Health, University of São Paulo (2011). Specialisation in Orthopaedic and Traumatology in the areas of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Bone Lengthening and Reconstruction. Medical assistant and preceptor of the Hospital Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo. Has publications in decompression of peripheral nerves, and complications in limb lengthening with presentations abroad on this subject. Participated actively in 15 Limb Deformity Courses in Baltimore as Faculty or / and Workshop Assistant (2000-2015). Coordinated Project Ponseti Brazil with 21 symposiums and coaching in Brazil and international participations; (Baltimore – EUA, IOWA – EUA, San Diego – EUA, New Orleans – EUA, Beijing – China, Guilin – China, Funchal – Madeira, Portugal, Johannesburg – South Africa, Hamburg – Germany, Buenos Aires – Argentina; Bogotá – Colombia, Cienfuegos – Cuba; Helsinki – Finland; Toronto – Canada; Sevilha, Madrid e Barcelona – Spain, Zurich – Austria). Member of medical advisory board of Ponseti International Association. Founder member of Ponseti Brasil. Past president of Ponseti Latinoamerica. Proposer and coordinator of the Global Grant Eradicating Clubfoot in Brazil 2016- 2018.
Dr Timothy Nunn (Ethiopia)
MSc: FRCS (Tr & Ortho)
Medical Director, CURE Ethiopia Childrens Hospital
Dr Timothy Nunn has been working in Addis Ababa for 7 years having trained in Orthopaedic surgery from the Yorkshire Deanery and undertaken fellowships in children’s orthopaedic surgery at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. His interest in clubfoot treatment is longstanding. This interest coincided with the huge number of walking patients presenting to CURE Ethiopia Children’s Hospital with Delayed Presenting Clubfoot who had never had treatment before. In the last 7 years Tim has been working to establish best practice for these patients by reviewing outcomes of different treatment techniques.
Rosalind Owen (UK)
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MSc Global Health and Development
Executive Director, Global Clubfoot Initiative. Senior Physiotherapist, Paediatric Foot clinic, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK
Ros Owen is the co-founder and Executive Director of Global Clubfoot Initiative (GCI), a network of 35 organisations supporting more than 30,000 children born with clubfoot and starting treatment annually across 60 countries worldwide. Ros also works part time as a physiotherapist specialising in treatment of children with clubfoot in London, UK.
Dr Norgrove Penny (Canada)
MD, FRCS(C)
Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Branch for Global Surgical Care. University of British Columbia, Canada
Born in South Africa, lived in Zimbabwe until age 11.
Born in South Africa, lived in Zimbabwe until age 11.
Specialty practice in paediatric orthopaedic surgery for over 40 years. Spent 6 years living and working in Uganda (1996-2002). Instrumental in establishing the Uganda Clubfoot Project with Dr. Shafique Pirani and Michiel Steenbeek, amongst others, which has become a model of care in lower resource countries. Extensive training experience in Ponseti clubfoot care in many countries in sub-saharan Africa, Asia and India, as well as in Europe and North America. Was a regular faculty member in Dr. Ponseti’s conferences in Iowa prior to his passing. I have a particular concern for expanding care to untreated walking age children. I am a member of the Global Clubfoot Initiative and am on the medical advisory board of miraclefeet.
Dr Shafique Pirani (Canada)
MBBS: Res II: FRCSC: LMCC: ECFMG: ABOS
Clinical Professor : Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of British Columbia Medical School.
Dr Shafique Pirani is a Clinical Professor at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of British Columbia Medical School. Dr Pirani’s major interest is in clubfoot. He is widely known for his clubfoot assessment tool (known as the Pirani Clubfoot Severity Score), for his pioneering work on how the Ponseti Method corrects the clubfoot deformity, and for initiating the movement for the use of the Ponseti Method in developing nations. He was the Project Director for both the Uganda Sustainable Clubfoot Care Project (USCCP) and Sustainable Clubfoot Care in Bangladesh (SCCB). Both were Government of Canada (Global Affairs Canada) supported initiatives to build capacity for sustainable Ponseti clubfoot management throughout their respective countries. The World Health Organization has recognized the success of USCCP and recommended its model as a way of helping the disabled worldwide. Dr Pirani has been widely recognized for his work. His awards include the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeon’s Humanitarian Award, the Paediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America Humanitarian Award, the Canadian Orthopaedic Association’s Award for Excellence, the Paediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America’s Angie Kuo Award, the University of British Columbia’s Impact in the Community Award, and Fraser Health’s Above and Beyond Award.
Prof Edina Sinanovic (SA)
Professor of Health Economics and Head of the Health Economics Division, University of Cape Town
Edina Sinanovic is a Professor of Health Economics at the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa, where she serves as the Head of the Health Economics Division in the School of Public Health. Her academic training is in economics and health economics. Over the last 26 years, her research had focused primarily on economic evaluation of alternative diagnostic and treatment healthcare interventions, especially in relation to tuberculosis and HIV, and economic considerations in vaccination, with an emphasis on the economic modelling of new vaccines. In the last five years, her research interest has expanded to estimating the budget impact of scaling up health care interventions that are cost-effective, have a potential to improve health, access to care and quality of life. Prof. Sinanovic publishes widely in high-impact journals and her work has directly influenced government policy. In addition, she is an executive member of the Pharmaceutical & Technology Clinical Management Association (PTCMA) of South Africa, with a focus on research and education. She is also a member of the Strategic Scientific Advisory Board of the Botnar Research Centre for Child Health at the University of Basel, Switzerland, which is dedicated to advancing global child and adolescent health. Prof. Sinanovic has served as a member of the WHO Immunization and Vaccines Related Implementation Research Advisory Committee.
Dr Kobus Smit (SA)
MB. Ch. B. And M.Med. Orthopaedic Surgery
Head Specialist: Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Free State.
Dr J.P.J. (Kobus) Smit is Paediatric Orthopaedic Consultant and Lecturer: University of Free State and Free State Health Department. Dr Smit is a full time Orthopaedic consultant and lecturer on the Joint Staff Establishment of the University of the Free State / Free State Health Department. He has made a career of an academic orthopaedic practice. He established the Paediatric Orthopaedic Service for Central South Africa (PAEDOS) in 1995 for the provinces of the Free State and Northern Cape. PAEDOS is an outreach activity and functions at the tertiary care centre in Bloemfontein as well as the secondary hospitals within a 400 km radius from Bloemfontein. With PAEDOS he succeeded in promoting the close relationship between all components of the health system. Outreach, defined as a systematic attempt to provide services beyond conventional limits, focuses on the development of peripheral services and quality assurance programmes. It is sustainable because the service and management of the patient comes first. He makes a valuable and important contribution to the training of Orthopaedic students and is involved in the development of e-learning for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He has daily contact with the Orthopaedic Registrars and supervises professional development, assessment, and research projects. During the past thirty years he has been involved in clinical orthopaedic research covering amongst others trauma of the upper limb, management of malalignment of the lower limbs, management of clubfeet and hip dysplasia. This research was presented at SAOA and SAPOS meetings as well as in the South African Orthopaedic Journal. He is currently registered for a PhD in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Stellenbosch. The aim of the PhD is to produce new knowledge and deepen the understanding of the idea of OUTREACH as organisational culture, determine the effectiveness of PAEDOS, investigate the factors that influenced it and propose models for both Paediatric Orthopaedic Outreach as well as the Health Services for Central South Africa.
Dr Mathew Varghese (India)
MBBS, MS – Orthopaedics
Head of Orthopaedics, St Stephen’s Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Dr Mathew Varghese is Honorary Director for Cure Clubfoot International, India Trust. He is a graduate and a post-graduate in orthopaedic surgery from Maulana Azad Medical College, University of Delhi. He is currently the Head of the Department of Orthopaedics, St Stephen’s Hospital, New Delhi, and served as Director of the hospital 1999- 2006. He was instrumental in changing the profile of the hospital to a super-specialty tertiary care centre even while maintaining a large community outreach programme. He was nominated in 2018 by Bill Gates as one of the Five Heroes in the field that inspires him. He has specialized in trauma care with particular emphasis on reconstructive surgery for trauma and deformities in adult and paediatric patients. He gave the Presidential Guest lecture at the 2018 British Orthopaedic Association Centenary year annual meeting titled ‘Orthopaedics in an unequal world – my journey from learning to understanding’. He was the first Indian to give this lecture in a hundred years of the BOA. He was nominated Chairperson of a committee to evaluate disabilities in Children with Cerebral Palsy by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. He received the Award of Honour for Reconstructive Surgery in Polio Patients in 1996, the National Award for Excellence in Medicine by the T. P. Jhunjunwala Foundation for the year 2004-2005, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award – 2007, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi.
Denise Watson-Tann (UK)
MCSP: Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in Paediatric Orthopaedics
Extended Scope Physiotherapist: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Denise Watson is an Extended Scope Physiotherapist in Paediatric Orthopaedics at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation trust, and has more than 30 years of experience in the NHS. She specialises in treating clubfoot and lower limb deformity in children. She works at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital which has a specialist clubfoot unit. She is particularly interested in the treatment of complex, relapsed and atypical clubfoot using the Ponseti method. She is passionate about providing excellent treatment for children with Clubfoot and sees families from all over the UK (and abroad) for tertiary referral. She regularly trains healthcare professionals in Ponseti clubfoot management in the UK and abroad and has worked with Global Clubfoot initiative and several NGOs in the development of the Africa Clubfoot Training Programme, visiting Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. She has also taught in Bangladesh, Belarus and Hungary and Myanmar. She is part of the UK Clubfoot consensus group who have been working with Global Clubfoot initiative to develop a Global Clubfoot Training programme in Ponseti method, accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons for the UK and more suited to higher income countries.
Session Chairs and Panel Discussion (SAPOS)
Dr Mark Eltringham
Paediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital
Mark completed both his Under and Postgrad studies at the University of the Witwatersrand and is in Private Practice at Sunninghill Hospital, Johannesburg, where he focuses on Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. He has a special interest in the treatment of children with Club Foot, changing his approach to the Ponseti method in 2003. Having trained under Prof Ponseti and John Herzenberg in the USA, he remains actively involved in the teaching of the method in South Africa.
Prof Robert Golele (SA)
MBChB: University of Natal, MFGP Diploma, M.MED (ORTHO): MEDUNSA, FCS (ORTH) SA (PR)
Head: Department Of Orthopaedics, University Of Limpopo, Medunsa Campus, Pretoria.
PROFESSOR AND HEAD: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Former MEDUNSA/Ga-Rankuwa Hospital, now University Of Limpopo, MEDUNSA Campus/Dr George Mukhari Hospital, 01 November 1991 To Date. EXTERNAL EXAMINER: External Examiner to the college of Medicine of South Africa and several Medical Universities in the country – 2006 to Date. OFFICES HELD IN PROFESSIONAL BODIES: Member of the health professions council of south Africa. Member of the South Africa medical association. Member of the South African orthopaedic association. Member of the faculty of general practitioners. Member of the South African Paediatric association. Member of editorial board: S.A bone and joint journal 1992 to date. Member of South African orthopaedic association standard sub-committee 1992 to date. Member of selection panel: chief specialist/professor and hod: orthopaedic surgery, University of Free State – interviews 25 February 2004. Chairperson – organising committee SAOA instructional course 2001. Councillor and office bearer: CMSA (Oct 2002). Council member – UL January 2007 – December 2008. AWARDS: Dean’s Award – Faculty of Medicine In recognition of Meritorious service and dedication to the Medical Faculty and to MEDUNSA over many years. 5 December 2004. Top Achiever of the Hospital in the last Decade, In recognition of outstanding service delivery and hard work, 27 August 2004. J J G Craig Memorial Lecture (from SAPOS) Delivered to the South African Orthopaedic Association Congress in Port Elizabeth, 5-9 September 2005. G T du Toit Founder Lecture, Delivered to the South African Orthopaedic Association, 53rd Congress in. Johannesburg; 5 September 2007. Distinguished Career Award by University of Limpopo, MEDUNSA Camus. 01 November 2011.
Dr Anria Horn (SA)
MBChB, MMed (Orth), FC Orth (SA)
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and Maitland Cottage Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital. Senior lecturer, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cape Town.
Dr Horn completed her Orthopaedic training at the University of Cape Town in 2015. Following this. She completed a fellowship in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, UK. She has been a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and the Maitland Cottage Children’s Orthopaedic Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, since 2016. In addition to this, she runs an adolescent orthopaedic service at Groote Schuur Hospital and has a part-time private practice at UCT Private Academic Hospital in Cape Town. Dr Horn is actively involved in research and teaching. She has published 19 peer reviewed scientific papers and has been an invited speaker at several national orthopaedic meetings. She is also currently undergraduate convener for orthopaedic surgery at UCT.
Dr Pieter Maré (SA)
M.B.Ch.B (US), F.C. (Orth) SA (UKZN)
Head Clinical Unit: Paediatric Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Grey’s Hospital , University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Dr Pieter Maré is Head Clinical Unit: Paediatric Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Grey’s Hospital, Pietermaritzburg & University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa. Dr Maré is current president of the South African Paediatric Orthopaedics Society. Research Interests: Blount’s disease, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Paediatric limb reconstruction, Clubfoot.
Dr Yammesh Ramguthy (SA)
BMedSc, UDW: MBChb, Medunsa: FC (Ortho) SA
Head of Paediatric Orthopaedic surgery, CHBAH.
Dr Yammesh Ramguthy is Paediatric Orthopaedic Consultant at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH). SPECIAL INTERESTS”
Paediatric Clubfoot Management
Paediatric Congenital Limb Deformities
Post Traumatic and Post – Infective Limb Deformity Reconstruction
Member of South African Orthopaedic Association (SAOA)
Member of South African Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (SAPOS)
Dr Mari Thiart (SA)
MBChB (Pretoria), MMED (Orth) (Stell), FC Orth (SA)
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital.
Dr Marí Thiart is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, based at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. She has a dual appointment as a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University. She graduated in 2015 at Stellenbosch University and spent two years in Southampton, United Kingdom, first as a fellow and then a locum consultant before returning to Tygerberg. She runs the Paediatric unit and has a special interest in bone and joint infections, cerebral palsy and limb reconstruction. She is one of the founding members of the South African Female Orthopaedic Surgeons’ Society (SAFOSS). As one of the 5% of female orthopaedic surgeons in South Africa, Marí is passionate about advancing women and promoting Orthopaedics as a viable specialization option for women. Dr Thiart is a member of South African Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons, South African Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society as well as the South African Academy of Childhood Disability. She is a member of the AAOS, the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society.
Free Papers
Saeda Albarawi (Palestine)
ICRC Physiotherapist // Physiotherapist Senior Field officer
Bachelor Degree in physical Therapy and Master Degree in Public health.
Saeda has been practicing physiotherapy (PT) for the last 22 years, either as a therapist, by providing technical support and mentoring, and as trainer. She gained her PT BSC from Islamic University (2000), and her master’s degree in public health & health management from Al Quds University in 2021. She is working for International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as a physiotherapist filed officer since 2010. Her main responsibility is providing technical support for ICRC supported physical rehabilitation centers, MoH physical rehabilitation unit and Palestinian PT association. Supported MoH through a project to improve inpatient PT services in 6 main hospitals in Gaza, and also supported MoH to implement PT standards in a PHC center. She worked with UNRWA out-patient clinics in Gaza (2003) and was head of PT department at Palestinian wounded association (2003 – 2006). In 2019, 2021 she presented at World Confederation of Physical Therapy congress in Geneva and virtual respectively. She presented a study on amputations at International Society of Prosthetic and Orthotic congress South Africa in May 2017. She presented at the IPRED conference in 2015 ‘The role of the ICRC physiotherapist during emergencies; also planning for emergency’. She was a member of scientific committee of many local conferences conducted on field of rehabilitation.
Endashaw Abera (Ethiopia)
BPT, LLB, MPH – Expert Physical Therapist, Senior Public Health Expert
Country Director for HOPE WALKS ETHIOPIA National Clubfoot Program.
Endashaw represents Hope Walks Ethiopia, a subsidiary of HOPE WALKS Inc., as the country director for the national clubfoot program. He has more than 12 years of expertise administering the National Clubfoot Program, treating children born with clubfoot, and managing clubfoot treatments accessibility in Ethiopia. Endashaw is an expert at running public-health programs. He is in charge of promoting the use of Ponseti clubfoot treatment across the country. Endashaw is a formidable force at work, inspiring others to put in the effort and succeed with his upbeat outlook and abundant energy. He had been President of Ethiopian Physiotherapy Association for three years from 2015 to 2018 G.C. He has additionally had three medical journals published previously, and he has three more on the way. Endashaw enjoys writing, playing, watching, and volunteering in the church in his free time.
Dr Khetani Solly Bila (SA)
FC Ortho, BSC Honours (O&G), MBCHB
Consultant – Orthopaedic pediatric tumors & infection unit
Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital
Dr Ayana Birhanu (Ethiopia)
MD. Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery sub-specialist
Associate professor Orthopedic Surgery, addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, Chair, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Unit, Department of Orthopedic Surgery.
I have completed my orthopedic surgery training at Addis Ababa university, College of health Sciences, department of orthopedic surgery. I did a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Christian medical college (CMC), Vellore, India. In addition I have done short term training at Sickkids Hospital, Toronto, Canada and fellowship in Ponseti method at university of IOWA,USA. Currently I am a consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Black Lion national teaching hospital and associate professor of orthopedic surgery at Addis Ababa University, department of orthopedics and traumatology and a unit head of pediatric orthopedic surgery. In addition to this, I am a medical director of Hope Walks clubfoot program ,Ethiopia. I am actively involved in academic activities of orthopedic, surgical resident and undergraduate medical students and research. Since my orthopedic residency to present I have been involved giving training on ponseti method of clubfoot treatment to clinical officers, physiotherapist and orthopedic surgeons. Also, I was a faculty member of Africa clubfoot training project( ACT)
Dr B.A.K. Faïçal Oubda (Burkina Faso)
Medical Doctor, Generalist
Program Manager of Burkina Hope Walks Clubfoot Program.
Born by January 1, 1983 in Burkina Faso, Dr Oubda made all his studies in Burkina Faso. By 2011, He successfully defended his Doctoral Thesis in Medicine at the University of Ouagadougou. He was first connected to Clubfoot care in 2013 when he received his first training on the Ponseti Method at Cure Hospital in Niger. By the grace of God, his passion and engagement to take care of children born with clubfoot conducted him to be hired in December 2017 as the Program Manager of Burkina Hope Walks Clubfoot Program, located at Schiphra Hospital the implementing partner of this program in Burkina. By April 2018, Dr Oubda officially became an ACT Basic and Advanced Trainer (ACT=Africa Clubfoot Training) after he received the “Train The Trainer course in Tanzania”. Under Hope Walks staff leadership, Implementing partner Schiphra Hospital and all the Stakeholders support including Ministry of Health, the clubfoot program have subsequently grown, allowing nearly 800 children aged between 0-2 years to receive a good quality clubfoot care, free of charge in 7 regions of the Country.
Sadia Roshan Khan (Pakistan)
Ponseti Certified clubfoot Clinician at MPRC ( ICRC) supported clubfoot program Pakistan
Physiotherapy Assistant.
Sadia Roshan Khan is the Physio Assistant and Ponseti Certified clinician at ICRC supported clubfoot program at Muzaffarabad Physical Rehabilitation Centre Pakistan. Clubfoot management is her area of expertise. She is one of the pioneer in the establishment of clubfoot clinic. She is working as clubfoot clinician since 2006 till date . She is currently involve in the management of clubfoot, cast manipulations ,assisting in tenotomy procedure, bracing, parents education and managing FAB follow ups.
Victoria Kimathi (Kenya)
BSc in Physiotherapy
Clinical Supervisor, Clubfoot Care for Kenya/Hope Walks Kenya.
Victoria is passionate about rehabilitation, in specific, paediatric physiotherapy. She completed her BSc in Physiotherapy at Tumaini University – Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Moshi, Tanzania, in 2013. Currently, Victoria is pursuing a Masters of Science in Physiotherapy from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya and a postgraduate diploma in Paediatric physiotherapy from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She has spent time working in community outreach projects and hospitals providing mostly paediatric physiotherapy services. She now serves with Hope Walks as the Kenya program clinical supervisor, a role she enjoys greatly. Her work involves training healthcare workers in clubfoot treatment using the Ponseti method and mentoring clinicians from 28 partner clubfoot clinics across Kenya in best practices to run clubfoot clinics. She is also passionate about research shown by her work in coordinating an ongoing prospective brace research and publication in East Africa Medical Journal.
Dr Antonio Melotto (Kenya)
Orthopaedic and General surgeon
Currently retired in Italy. Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Ruaraka Uhai Neema Hospital- Nairobi.
Med graduation 1981 Università Statale Milano. Specialization in general surgery. Specialization in orthopaedics. Specialization in hand surgery. From 1994 regular orthopaedic mission (2 par year) in Kenya ( Tabaka mission H in Kisii area. Mbagati H.,Nazareth H, Coptic H and, from 2008 at Neema H. in Nairobi. Current – voluntary work for the World Friends Org in Nairobi.
Dr Kaelo Motlogelwa (SA)
MBCHB
Medical registrar at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital.
Dr Kaelo Motlogelwa did his undergraduate studies at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, Completed his MBCHB in 2012. Has been working in the public sector since 2013, as a medical intern and subsequently as a medical officer at Jubilee District Hospital. Currently working as a medical registrar at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital/ Sefako Makgatho University of Sealth Sciences in the Department of Orthopaedics.
Dr Henry Musoke (Uganda)
Principal Clinical Orthopaedic officer; African Clubfoot trainer
Country Clubfoot program Coordinator of National Clubfoot Program of Uganda (NCPU).
Ugandan male, with practical experience and knowledge in clinical Orthopaedics & trauma, health services management, project management and Vocational Pedagogy. Extensive experience in treating & teaching clubfoot using the Ponseti method in East and West Africa. I’m focused on building a strong clubfoot care system in Uganda through integrating clubfoot treatment in maternal and child health services.
Dr Ifechi Obioha MD (Nigeria)
MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Imo State.
Graduated from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra state in 2008 with MBBS. Pursued my passion in orthopaedics after internship program. Practicing as an orthopaedic surgeon at federal Medical Center Owerri and had spot for clubfoot management which I have done for more than 7 years and would continue to improve on and learn more.
Rawan Osman (Sudan)
Bs. Honour in Physiotherapy
Clinical Supervisor, Sudan.
Committed, caring and friendly physiotherapist with a great passion for helping people of all ages, with a 4 years’ experience with patients and clients ranging from children to adults and the elderly affected by and recovering from injuries and movement disorders in both in and outpatient setting.
Mr Bindi Dominic Saffa (Sierra Leone)
Clubfoot ACT training certificates/attestations
National coordinator. Sierra Leone National Clubfoot Program.
I am a graduate with BA hons in Linguistics and Master Of Public Administration From Fourah Bay College (USL) and Njala University Sierra Leone respectively.
I have been managing the Sierra Leone national clubfoot program for eight years and I have had opportunity to follow all the ACT clubfoot trainings in Sierra Leone during this period.
I have wealth of experience working with vulnerable children such as children with traumatic experience, street children, and disable children while I was with Handicap International France as Psycho-social co-therapist and now children born with clubfoot deformity. I have done two presentations at “Forum for Psychologists” in La Rochelle and Avignon in France on the psychological impact of the civil war in Sierra Leone in 2004 and 2006. I have skills in critical thinking, analysis, programming and clubfoot management.
Dr Mohamed Salsabil Sabounji (Senegal)
MD, DES
Paediatric Surgeon.
Completed a residency in Paediatric Surgery (including general surgery and orthopaedics). Board certified Paediatric Surgeon (SENEGAL). High interest in Paediatric Orthopaedics (Clubfoot Management, Congenital Limb Deformities). Former Clubfoot clinic manager at Albert Royer Children’s Hospital Ponseti method trainer.
Dr Tracey Smythe (UK)
Paediatric Physiotherapist, Masters in Public Health, Doctorate in Epidemiology
Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Stellenbosch University.
Dr Tracey Smythe is a Paediatric Physiotherapist and Assistant Professor with the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (UK) and Stellenbosch University (SA). Dr Smythe’s clinical experience includes developing, coordinating and delivering rehabilitation interventions and health worker training programmes in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, countries in sub-Saharan Africa and the UK. Her research interest is in development of replicable interventions to improve the quality of life of children with developmental disabilities, and in the design and analysis of before-after trials, cohort studies and cross sectional studies for children with clubfoot. Dr Smythe’s research examines the power of diversity and lived experiences that are shaped by socio-cultural, historical, economic and political contexts to optimise inclusive health services.
Dr. Chukwuka O. Udemezue (Nigeria)
MBBS, FWACS-Ortho
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.
I am Dr. C. O. Udemezue, Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon at Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia Nigeria
Esperance Uwizeye (Rwanda)
Physiotherapist and Public health Officer
Africa Regional Manager for Hope Walks, Rwanda.
Esperance UWIZEYE serves as the Hope Walks regional Manager for Africa. Esperance is a physiotherapist with over 15 years’ experience working with Government institutions and INGOs in treating clubfeet using the Ponseti method. Esperance commenced working with CURE clubfoot (now Hope Walks) in 2009 as the Rwanda Country Director. In 2016 she was promoted to the position of Regional Program Officer for clinical responsibilities. In this role Esperance provides technical support for 13 Africa Clubfoot Programs. She provides training, mentoring and monitoring to promote effective and high-quality management of clubfoot using the Ponseti method. Then from 2018 up to now, Esperance is currently assuming regional operational management responsibilities as Hope walks Regional Manager for Africa. Prior to joining Hope Walks, Esperance worked for CBM as a Director of Gahini Rehabilitation Centre in Rwanda. In addition to her advanced Diploma in physiotherapy from University of Rwanda, Esperance holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social sciences from Kigali Independent University and a Master degree in Public Health from Mount Kenya University. She lives in Kigali/ Rwanda.
Dr Gul Zaman (Pakistan)
PhD Scholar Physiotherapy, MSPT, DPT, MSc
Senior Physiotherapist/CF Programme Responsible ICRC Pakistan.
Expert Physical Therapist/CF Project responsible, PhD scholar in physiotherapy, MSPT, DPT. with over sixteen years of experience in team leading, capacity building, mentoring, Planning, coaching and follow up of physical rehabilitation services in ICRC supported centers, research and teaching, establishing new physical rehabilitation centers.
International Certificates trainings and courses:
Prechtl’s methods on qualitative assessment of General Movement from 27/08/2018 to 30/08/2018.GM Trust and Cerebral Palsy Association, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Staff Integration Program, 18th Staff Integration Program in Asia, ICRC Thailand,
11/12/2017- 12/01/2018——–Online Phase.
22/01/2018 – 02/02/2018——-Face to Face phase.
01/02/2018- 02/05/2018——– Work based learning phase
Physical Therapy Standards Implementation Workshop, 14th -18th August 2017 ICRC, Cambodia.
Advance Lower Limb Amputee Rehabilitation course. 5th -9th September 2016 ICRC, Cambodia.
ICRC Management Program13/10/2020 -10/28/2020 ICRC Thailand.
· Facilitated, organized, and conducted several national and international trainings on Club Foot, advance amputee rehabilitation, lower limb orthotics, physiotherapy standards at ICRC.
· Research and Presentations in World Confederation for Physical Therapy Congress in Cape town, South Africa and Geneva, Switzerland.
· Several publications at National and International Journals.
I devoted a significant amount of time, as volunteer, to my national association, Pakistan Physical Therapy Association.
· Participated in 19th WCPT General Meeting 8-9, May 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland and presented Pakistan Physical Therapy Association as a voting delegate.
· 2011-Present, Member Pakistan Physical Therapy Association
· 2012-2014, Secretary Finance Chapter PPTA.
· 2015-2018, Member, Board of Directors, PPTA, Pakistan.
· 2018-2020 Secretary Finance, PPTA, Pakistan.
· Worked as Election commissioner for PPTA, Punjab Election,2018.
