I completed my Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy at Wits in 1990. I then worked in the area of Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation for a few years before leaving for the United States in 1993. While in the USA, I developed a special interest in Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Limb .I successfully passed the United States Hand Therapy Certification examination in 1997, and have completed more than the continuing education requirements for the continued use of the specialty designation of Certified Hand Therapist. In 2000 I left the United States, and worked in Hand Therapy Departments in England throughout 2001. I returned to South Africa in 2002 to open a private practice. I now have practices at Morningside Mediclinic and Sandton Mediclinic.
It was while in the USA that I developed a special interest in the management of lymphoedoedema In 2004 I certified to practice the Casely-Smith (Australian) method of Lymphoedema Management. In 2019 I certified in Fluoroscopy Guided Manual Lymphatic Drainage (Lymphoedema Training Academy, UK). I am a founder EXCO member of the Lymphoedema Association of South Africa (LAOSA) .
In 2020 I returned to university and completed my post-grad diploma in Interdisciplinary Pain Management at UCT.
In 2023 I completed Levels 1 and 2 of the Bradcliff Breathing Training Method. This follows completion of Breathwork Africa’s Foundations in Breathwork course in 2021.
I’ve attended national and international congresses in all of my areas of work, and have given courses and presentation on different aspects of hand and upper limb rehabilitation as well as lymphoedema. Although these may seem to be very different areas of special interest, they integrate very well in complete client care.
Additionally, I have a business called Naturally Grounded which focuses on wellbeing, particularly nature- based wellbeing, breathwork, guided imagery and music and stress management. I offer workshops to corporates and small businesses as well as to individual clients.
I’ve been involved in medical and non-medical missions to Uganda, Benin, Haiti, Mozambique, Bosnia and in South Africa.
When I’m not working I can be found birding, cycling, hiking, travelling, working in my garden, enjoying good food and spending time with friends and family.
Interesting fact:
I am currently training hard to ride the Munga Equippe, a mountain bike relay race from Bloemfontein to Wellington, at the end of November to raise money for Middelburg Care Village which is a children’s home in Mpumalanga that cares for 108 children placed there by order of the court. They are in dire need of support for basic things like food, school uniforms, school fees, medical care, psychological therapy etc.
