Our Esteemed Speakers
We are proud to welcome a distinguished lineup of national and international experts in breast imaging, precision medicine, surgical oncology, pathology, and public health.
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Each speaker brings deep expertise, academic leadership, and a passion for advancing women’s health through cutting-edge diagnostics, innovation, and education.
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Explore the profiles below to learn more about their contributions and the topics they will be presenting at the WITS Radiology Breast Imaging Symposium 2025.
*Select bios sourced from LinkedIn or institutional profiles.
Prof Nasreen Mahomed
Academic Head of Radiology, University of the Witwatersrand
Symposium Chair & Host
Prof Nasreen Mahomed is the Academic Head of Radiology at the University of Witwatersrand, the largest training circuit in Africa with 72 radiology registrars.
She holds 4 degrees MBBCH(Wits), FC Rad (SA), MMED (Wits), PhD (Wits) and completed a Paediatric radiology fellowship in Neuro radiology at Boston Children’s, Harvard University, USA.
She has 78 peer reviewed publications, supervised 17 MMEDs to completion. Her research is innovative pioneering readers in artificial intelligence in paediatric radiology one of the first authors to publish in Pediatric Radiology. She has also extensive experience in paediatric chest and paediatric neuro-radiology.
Prof N Mahomed is one of the youngest faculty members to obtain a PhD and promoted to Associate Professor in the School of Clinical Medicine Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand ranked amongst the top 75 medical schools internationally.
Prof Mahomed is highly respected in her filed and has been awarded national and international awards throughout her academic career including the Carnegie Corporation USA fellowship, the Discovery Foundation fellowship, the SAMRC research grant, the RSNA Derek Harwood Nash International fellowship, the Robert Austrian International Fellowship, Best Oral presentation Wits Faculty of Health Sciences for Doctoral Research, the Gauteng Health Excellence Awards.
The Dept of Radiology, Wits University was awarded the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) Ann Osborn Visiting Prof under the leadership of Prof N Mahomed, who also facilitated a national education in neuro radiology effort through the Radiological Society of South Africa (RSSA). She is Vice Academic chair of RSSA.
Prof N Mahomed has been an invited speaker at many national and international congresses most recently the European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) 2025, the Clinician Scientist Forum Nov 2024, Africa Health Oct 2024 and Discovery Foundation Congress Oct 2024.
Prof N Mahomed is a member of a number of national and international committees including the WHO CRES committee, the WFPI executive committee, the TB international lead, the Academic Heads committee Africa, Editorial boards of SAJR,, SA CMSA FC Radiology council.
She is passionate about academic radiology and improving the quality of radiology in the public sector and making an impact in academia and patients’ lives.
Prof Willy Vangu
Head of Nuclear Medicine at University of the Witwatersrand, Nuclear Medicine Specialist
Does second look PET Imaging have a place in Breast Cancer?
Prof Willy Vangu is a Chief Specialist, Full Professor, and Head of Nuclear Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, overseeing Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospitals.
He also leads the Department of Radiation Sciences and serves as Acting Head of the School of Clinical Medicine at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, since 1 January to date.
Holding an MD, MMed, MSc, and PhD, Prof Vangu has over 30 years of experience in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. He pioneered several advancements in South Africa, including PET imaging, radiolabeled antibody therapy, and targeted radionuclide treatments.
A dedicated educator, he has supervised over 40 Masters degrees and several PhD students, shaping nuclear medicine in South Africa and beyond.
Internationally recognized, he has delivered keynote addresses, published extensively, and received numerous awards, including the 2020 Faculty of Health Sciences Gold Medal. In 2024, he was elected to the Royal College of Medicine of London and was a co-president of the 'International Breast Cancer Update' meeting in Dubai, UEA.
He received an award for AI research in medical imaging at an international PET imaging conference in Vienna in October 2024 and a certificate on AI and Machine learning for an enduring course with MIT from November 2024 to March 2025.
Prof Jacqueline Smilg
Professor of Radiology
PhD (Wits), FF Rad (D) (SA), Dip Pec (SA), MBBCh
Breast Imaging 2.025 - Gadgets, innovations and game changing technology
Prof. Jacqueline Smilg is a Diagnostic Radiologist and received her PhD from the University
of the Witwatersrand in 2018.
She is currently a consultant in private practice, working in Breast Imaging at The Breast Wellness Centre in Johannesburg. She is an Adjunct Professor and Honorary Researcher at the University of Witwatersrand.
Prof. Smilg is the President of the Breast Interest Group of Southern Africa and past Chair of the Breast Imaging Society of South Africa. She has delivered invited and sponsored lectures in South Africa, Egypt and the USA and presented her research in Shanghai, China.
Prof. Smilg has a distinguished post-graduate teaching record, having taught and lectured to more than 600 Registrars since 1995 and has supervised 30 students for Masters/ Diploma degrees.
Prof. Smilg has held numerous positions in the government sector including Head of the Breast Imaging Unit at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH) and Acting Head of Department of Radiology at the Johannesburg General Hospital.
Under Prof Smilg’s leadership, the Breast
Imaging Unit at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital was recognized as a
Centre of Excellence in Breast Imaging - winning silver in the 2019 Gauteng Premier
Excellence awards, winning the Gauteng Department of Health 2018 Khanyisa Excellence
award and being awarded the 2018 Gauteng Health Service Excellence Award by CMJAH.
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She has served on a number of Academic and Clinical committees for both CMJAH and the
University. Prof Smilg serves on the editorial boards of several national and international
journals
Dr Thandi Eunice Buthelezi
Interventional Neuroradiologist & Head of Clinical Unit for MRI & Mammography at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, served as Acting Academic Head of University of Witwatersrand Radiology for 18 months
Breast MRI Demystified: A Practical Guide and Our Institutional Approach
Dr Thandi Buthelezi, fondly known as Dr B, is the first African female Interventional Neuroradiologist in South Africa and the only SANIS-accredited female NeuroInterventionalist currently practising.
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She is Head of Clinical Unit for MRI & Mammography Units at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) and has served as Acting Academic Head of Radiology at Wits University for just over 18 months.
She also contributes nationally as an examiner, panellist, and moderator at the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) and supervises multiple MMed projects.
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Her clinical expertise includes adult and paediatric neuroradiology, interventional neuroradiology, and women’s imaging, with a strong commitment to continued skill development and academic mentorship.
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Recognized for her good organisational skills, hard work, workplace etiquette, and positivity, she is admired for both her professionalism and her supportive/ collaborative leadership style.
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Beyond her professional roles, Dr. Buthelezi is active in charity work, and mentorship, inspiring young doctors, and women in medicine and beyond.
Her commitment to women’s imaging and passion for patient-centred care position her as an important contributor to the advancement of breast imaging.
Prof Salome Maswime
Head of Global Surgery at University of Cape Town, Director of UCT's WHO Collaborating Centre
South Africa doesn't have a National Breast Screening Program | Important Insights
Salome Maswime is a Professor and the Head of Global Surgery at the University of Cape Town, and the Director of UCT’s World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Integrated Clinical Care.
She has held various positions with the Health Systems Trust, including being appointed as the Interim CEO in 2025. She is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, a clinician scientist, a Global Health expert, and a pioneer in academic Global Surgery.
She is a the Chairperson of the South African Technical Working Group on Safe Surgery, a member of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics FIGO Committee on ethical aspects of Human Reproduction, and a member of the United Nations Core Stillbirths Estimates Group. She is the interim vice-chair of the Lifebox Global Governance Council, and the President of the South African Clinician Scientists Society.
She has received numerous awards for her contribution to science and to healthcare, including the trailblazer and young achiever award by the President of South Africa in 2017; Mail and Guardians 50 most powerful women in South Africa in 2020; the NSTF SA MRC Clinician Scientist award for pioneering Global Surgery in Africa; and the Excellence in Health award from the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute.
Prof Jenny Edge is head of the Breast and Endocrine unit at CMJAH. She has been involved in Breast Nurse education for the last 10 years and in the last few months, that has taken her to both Bulawayo (with the Association of Breast Surgery) and Lesotho (with ASCO).
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Prof Jenny Edge
MBBCh (London University), BSc, BSc (Med) Hons, MMed (surg), FRCS (Edin), FCS (RSA)
Adjunct Professor
Dept Surgery
Wits Medical School
What does the breast surgeon needs to know from the radiologist
Prof Jenny Edge
Head of Breast & Endocrine unit at CMJAH & Adjunct Professor
Dr Anith Chacko
CEO (Radhiant Diagnostic Imaging Inc), Specialist Radiologist
Mobile Screening Units
* With over a decade of experience, my core mission is to revolutionize access to diagnostic services through Radhiant Diagnostic Imaging, a company I founded to extend life-saving screenings to underserved communities. Aligning with Radhiant's culture of care, my expertise in mobile solutions and logistics management has been paramount in providing mobile mammography and ultrasound services nationwide. Our team's dedication mirrors my commitment to bridging healthcare gaps and fostering a diverse and inclusive approach to medical support.
As the Managing Director at East Coast Radiology Inc, I spearheaded the practice's expansion, doubling locations and revenue while integrating cutting-edge modalities and protocols. My strategic leadership during the implementation of a digitized PACS & RIS system set industry benchmarks, enhancing productivity and reducing costs. These experiences, coupled with my hands-on approach to start-up ventures, have equipped me with the skills to navigate Radhiant through its self-funded inception to a position of self-sufficiency.
Dr Peter Schoub
Specialist Radiologist
AI in Breast Imaging, Cryotherapy
Dr Peter Schoub qualified as a doctor in 1998, and as a radiologist in 2007. For the last 15 years he has focused on breast radiology.
Dr Schoub established the Parklane Women’s Imaging Center in 2012. The center became the first
American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited unit in South Africa in 2017, and was awarded the Breast Imaging Centre of Excellence designation in 2022.
The mammography department has recently moved to a new home at Melrose Arch.
Dr Schoub participates in several multidisciplinary breast cancer teams around Johannesburg.
Within the context of the team, Dr Schoub works closely with surgeons and oncologists, assisting with diagnosis, staging, monitoring tumour response and presurgical localisation. He has introduced cryoablation for small breast cancers into the unit in 2020.
Dr Schoub obtained the European Diploma of Breast Imaging in 2018.
He is the chairperson of the Breast Imaging Society of South Africa (BISSA), and is an honorary lecturer in the department of Radiology at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Dr Jenny Haberfeld
Specialist Radiologist, Head of Breast Imaging Unit CMJAH
BIRADS Classification Updates
Dr Jenny Haberfeld has been a consultant radiologist at CMJAH for over 20 years with a special interest in breast imaging.
During that time, she has been an integral part of the Breast imaging department, teaching registrars the various modalities in this discipline daily, as well as taking an active part in the daily running of the department. She has since assumed Head of Breast Imaging from Oct ’22 and Head of Clinical Unit from May ’24.
She was instrumental in helping setting up breast MRI and then contrast mammography in the department, and with the recent acquisition of the new MRI, will introduce MRI guided breast biopsy facility to the departmental repertoire.
She has also run sonar guided biopsy training sessions for the University registrar training circuit together with sponsors BD. These have been invaluable, as the skills learned are widely used across the interventional radiology arena.
The academic and teaching component is rounded off with a weekly MDT meeting which she oversees together with the head of Breast surgery.
Mrs Yogeshini Maistry
Supervisory Chief Radiographer at RMMCH
Artefacts in Breast Imaging
Mrs Yogeshini Maistry is a seasoned Diagnostic Radiographer with over 30 years of experience in the field, currently serving as the Supervisory Chief Radiographer at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital.
A respected leader and mentor, she heads the Mammography Department, where her expertise, precision, and patient-centered approach have shaped a high-performing team and elevated service standards.
With a deep passion for women's health and radiographic excellence, Yogeshini blends clinical mastery with visionary leadership, making her an invaluable asset in both patient care and departmental advancement.
Dr Tamiya Nair
Specialist Radiologist with Masters in Oncology Imaging
Precision Medicine Approach in Breast Cancer
Tamiya received her medical degree from the University of Cape Town in 2005 followed by an internship at Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng, and Community Service at Murchison District Hospital, in KwaZulu Natal, where she was later appointed as a Principle Medical Officer. During her time at the Murchison- Port Shepstone Hospital complex, she also completed a Diploma in Anaesthesia and received accreditation as an Aviation Health Care Provider.
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In 2009, Tamiya moved back to Cape Town after accepting a position at 2 Military Hospital as a Captain and Principle Medical Officer spending time in Internal Medicine and ICU. During this time she was granted the opportunity to assist in the United Nations African Hybrid Mission in Darfur, Sudan.
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Dr Nair enrolled as a Radiology Registrar at the University of Cape Town in October 2011. She became a Fellow of the College of Radiologists in 2016 and completed her Masters in Medicine in 2018, at which point she joined the Morton & Partners family.
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In 2019/2020, Dr Nair completed her Masters in Oncology Imaging through the University of Pisa. The programme is supported by the European Society of Oncologic Imaging and covers various topics including imaging biomarkers, Oncologic diagnostic and therapeutic pathways, evaluation of response criteria and the role of the radiologist in multidisciplinary Oncologic imaging.
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In her free time she is learning Italian, enjoys hiking and exploring exotic cuisine and loves to travel. She shares a passion for textiles and ceramics with her husband.
Dr Nadia Jajbhay
Specialist Radiologist
Imaging guided Biopsies in breast, What is New
Dr Nadia Jajbhay graduated at Wits University through the College of Medicine as a Specialist Radiologist.
She is passionate about early detection cancer screening and runs a specialized Breast and Bone practice in Killarney Mall ,Johannesburg for the past 13 years.
She is a preferred provider with her expertise in stereotactic and ultrasound guided vacuum assisted biopsies.
Mrs Igda Van Den Berg
Mammographer
Empathy and Precision: Improving mammography image quality through effective patient care.
I am a dedicated mammographer with 10 years of experience at Milpark Radiology, where I proudly serve as the department manager.
My work is my passion, and I approach breast care with both expertise and empathy. For me, it’s not just about delivering high-quality imaging but also about providing compassionate support to every patient.
Outside of work, I find balance and joy in spending quality time with my four-legged children, family, and friends, which keeps me grounded to care for others.