17/11/2017
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Shezi Makes History as KZN's first black female Neurosurgeon.
32 year old Dr Nomusa Shezi is making her mark.
She is KZN's first Black woman to graduate as a neurosurgeon, UZKN announced today.
Her graduation will take place at the University of Kwazulu Natal (UKZN), next year.
Shezi completed her undergraduate studies at UKZN in 2008 and recently qualified as a neurosurgeon.
Currently working as a medical officer at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital, she said growing up during the height of the HIV epidemic, her dream was to help sick people and nurse them back to health.
"I think growing up amid the HIV epidemic, and having parents who did not shield me from the reality of what was happening, in some way urged a desire in me to help - to find a way to be a source of hope in my country."She adds: "I have always wanted to be a doctor. I remember writing an essay in Grade 3 about finding a cure for HIV."
Raised in Pietermaritzburg, Shezi attributes much of her success to her parents.
She hopes this will encourage more women to get into the field.
‘We are still working in an environment where surgery in general is considered a “man’s” field.
"So, neurosurgery is an even harder field to crack for women. "My long-term plan is to create and be a part of a functional neurosurgery Unit in KwaZulu-Natal.
"I would like to build a team that would treat movement disorders, severe epilepsy and perform awake surgery.
"This would not just save the government millions of rand on life-long treatment, but more importantly, provide quality of life to many patients in this province.’ she said.
There are only five Black African female neurosurgeons in the country. Shezi is the first for the province.
