KOMANI’S MEDICAL STAR ON THE RISE
Public health education, innovation her vision
Queenstown Girls’ High School Old Girl, public health medicine specialist and global public health advocate Dr Flavia Senkubuge has been announced as the president of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA).
Senkubuge made history as the first black woman and only the third woman to hold the position in the CMSA’s 64 years of existence.
She is also the youngest president in its history and the first specialist in public health medicine to hold the position.
“CMSA is one of the most prestigious bodies of medicine in SA. It is the custodian of the quality of medical care in SA and is unique in the world in that it embraces 28 constituent colleges representing the disciplines of medicine and dentistry,” Senkubuge said.
Senkubuge grew up in Cacadu, where she attended Lady Frere Junior Secondary School. She finished her primary education at Balmoral, matriculating from GHS and then completing her medical degree at the University of Pretoria.
She said she had always wanted to work in the field of public health medicine.
“Public health is so dynamic and exciting, you get to see your work impact on populations instead of just one person. You work with talented individuals across the health space and across the world. “You see the world!
“It is a gratifying and humbling feeling.”
Her vision for CMSA’s Agenda 2022 is to educate, innovate and make an impact. She has called for a dynamic CMSA that leverages and harnesses the collective excellence of its members and stakeholders.
Senkubuge plans to lead a CMSA that is responsive and creates value for its profession, health system and society.
She was the chair of the health policy and management division and is the acting chair of the School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH) at the University of Pretoria. She was also a 2018 finalist in the Women of Stature Award in the women in healthcare category.
At heart she is a philanthropist who is passionate about mentoring young people.
Her message to the young people of Komani is: “You come from a wonderful town. I walked and played in the same town as you. Dream big, and do what you are supposed to do. Be patient, God will guide you.
“Trust God and put him first. There is nothing that you cannot achieve.”