Work
Nick Name
R/ Lebo
What is your current job and where do you work?
R/ I am a PhD (Genetic Counselling) student at the Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town. Time to time I assist with Genetic Counselling provided at Groote Schuur and Red Cross Hospitals.
Explain your current research/work (in simple English)
R/ My research is in prenatal genetic counselling with a focus on serious congenital abnormalities/birth defects that are seen on ultrasound during pregnancy. The outcome of these is usually poor and can result in death or severe disability. I am looking into the views of the parents and health care workers on their views on the topic. The importance of this is to understand the experiences and find ways to improve the care for the rest of the pregnancy and to tailor genetic counselling to the patient needs.
Describe a typical day at work/research
R/ Research
- Recruiting participants and collecting data through interviews
-Analyzing data and writing articles
Clinic
-Counselling of patients
- Patient admin such as notes etc.
Personal
What is your favourite hobby?
R/ Watching movies at the cinema and hiking
What is your favourite food?
R/ Oxtail and dumpling (the way my grandmother makes it)
What was your favourite subject at school and why?
R/ Biology! We had an awesome teacher and I just found it very interesting
Who is your role model?
R/ My Grandmother
What were/are your parents or caregivers professions?
R/ Eskom
Career Path
Primary School: Name, Suburb/Township, City, Country
R/ Monument Primary, Krugersdorp, Mogale City, South Africa
High School
R/ St Ursula's School, Krugersdorp
Tertiary education
R/ BSc Medical Sciences, University of Limpopo
MSc (Med) Genetic Counselling, University of Cape Town
Previous jobs
R/ Intern Genetic Counselor-University of Cape Town
How confident are you in your public engagement skills (2-way communication with the general public)
R/ Confident
How often do you take part in public engagement activities
R/ Very often (> 3 times a year)
What attracted you to signing up on mGenAfrica (tick all that apply)
R/ Online communications