Orthopaedic Surgeon | Professor | Father

I graduated with my medical degree in 1999, and while my final exam was an orthopaedic case (with examiners encouraging me to consider orthopaedics!), I initially resisted the idea of specialising. I moved to the UK to work at a hospital in Exeter – known for its orthopedic legacy, and it reignited that early spark. One night while on call, I reduced a patient’s dislocated elbow and heard the loud “clunk” as it slipped back into place. That moment of instant relief, of being able to physically fix something, was incredibly satisfying.

But it wasn’t until I became a father that everything truly clicked. Working as an Orthopaedic Registrar while raising a young family, I found myself naturally drawn to Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. I’d always loved working with children—but now I understood their needs not just as a doctor, but as a parent too.

Back in South Africa, I was fortunate to gain some experience that confirmed what I already suspected – helping children is what I was meant to do. Over time, I focused solely on pediatric orthopaedics, learning everything I could to offer my young patients the most accurate diagnoses, the gentlest care, and the best possible outcomes.

Today, I split my time between private practice (Pretoria and George, South Africa), public service, and teaching. I lead the Paediatric Orthopaedic Department at Steve Biko Academic Hospital and serve as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pretoria, where I help train the next generation of orthopaedic specialists.

I’ve dedicated my professional life to helping children recover from pain and injury, and to showing both parents and practitioners that kids deserve specialized, paediatric-specific care. Their growing bodies need more than a scaled-down version of adult treatment – they need precision, patience, and a deep understanding of how children heal.