Clinician-scientist in surgery receives doctoral fellowship at SA Women in Science Awards
- Wits University
Dr Gabriella Hyman awarded the prestigious Dr Esther Mahlangu Doctoral Fellowship for her clinician-scientist role and research in SA public health sector.
The South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) recognise women scientists and researchers who are role models for younger women and who encourage early career researchers and scientists to continue in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM)-related careers.
Dr Gabriella Hyman, a Lecturer in Surgery in the School of Clinical Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences, was awarded for her emerging work on health systems research for surgical care delivery in the South African public hospital sector.
Hyman says that strengthening surgical health systems ensures that the broader health system can deliver excellent surgical care.
“We use innovative tools and methodologies to improve the service delivery platform, financing mechanisms, and policies needed to deliver safe, timely and affordable surgical care to all South Africans," she says.
The key components of surgical care delivery include human resources (training surgical care providers); infrastructure (upgrading facilities, equipment, and supply chains); service delivery (optimising workflows); financing (ensuring sustainable funding for surgical services); and governance (developing policies and standards for safe and effective surgical care).
Hyman says, “We want to understand what is going on in surgical care delivery. Investing in health information systems to monitor provision and outcomes - such as morbidity and mortality - is important. So is developing more robust clinical governance. Through our work, we have developed instruments and methodologies that can be used from the frontline provider, to the facility manager, to the policy-maker level."
Combining research with on-the-ground and efficient patient care is the ultimate goal of medical science in under-resourced settings.
Bridging the research-patient care gap with clinician-scientist training
Clinician-scientists are particularly important in the South African public healthcare sector as they can design and implement research that is directly relevant to local health needs. This includes understanding the barriers to care, developing context-specific interventions, and advocating for policy changes that promote health equity.
The clinician-scientist training pathway is a specialised career trajectory that combines clinical practice with scientific research. It involves cross-disciplinary training, typically beginning with a medical degree, followed by specialist training and practice in a clinical specialty, and advanced training in research methodologies.
“In resource-limited settings, clinician-scientists play a crucial role in innovating care delivery models and ensuring that scientific advancements translate into tangible health improvements for underserved communities," says Hyman. "It is an efficient way of addressing the human resource shortage in SA's health sector.”
Furthermore, clinician-scientists can create data-driven innovative solutions to neglected health problems, such as surgical care, says Hyman. "By integrating clinical insights with research methodologies, clinician-scientists can develop targeted strategies to enhance healthcare delivery, ultimately strengthening the health system and promoting equitable access to care for all."