Please join us in celebrating the phenomenal Dr. Thendo Gertie Makhado, a dazzling force in health Sciences who continues to blaze trails and break barriers at only 29 years old! In a moment that has truly shaken the academic and research world, Dr. Makhado, a Junior lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Advanced Nursing Sciences, has been awarded the prestigious NRF Y2 Rating in 2025 – a recognition reserved for emerging researchers with the potential to become international leaders in their fields.
Since her appointment as Junior Lecturer in Advanced Nursing at the University of Venda in 2022, Dr. Makhado has been a blazing beacon of hope and innovation. With a Ph.D. in Nursing earned in 2023, she has spearheaded ground-breaking research on epilepsy education in rural schools, funded by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). Her Epilepsy Life Skills Education Guidelines are more than a project — they are a revolution in how we nurture, protect, and empower children with epilepsy. With 18 peer-reviewed publications (six stemming directly from her Ph.D.), Dr. Makhado is not only academically fierce but also deeply rooted in community impact, addressing maternal mortality, HIV, PTSD in rape survivors, and more. She has secured multiple research grants, which include SAMRC, USDP, and National Health Institute (NHI), in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr Makhado continues to shine as a young junior lecturer at the University of Venda. “Congratulations, Dr Makhado! You are the embodiment of brilliance, resilience, and radical transformation. South Africa is proud. The world is watching. And your story is only just beginning, said Prof Tshilidzi Mulaudzi, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
#ShiningStar #NRFRated #YoungAndFearless #DrMakhadoRises #EpilepsyAdvocate #SouthAfrica100Stars #WatchThisSpace.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding & Communication.
University Of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
