Prestigious Beiersdorf Icons of Care Award for UKZN’s Professor Ncoza Dlova

BY: .

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) proudly announces that its Head of Dermatology, Professor Ncoza Dlova, has been selected as one of the inaugural recipients of the prestigious Beiersdorf Icons of Care Award.

The award recognises exceptional leaders in dermatology whose achievements, innovations, and dedication have significantly advanced the field of skincare.

Following a rigorous review of more than 100 distinguished dermatologists from around the world, Dlova was chosen for her outstanding and sustained contributions to dermatology. This distinction reflects her remarkable impact across the core pillars of the discipline: advancing scientific understanding, mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals, and delivering exceptional patient care.

Dlova will be formally recognised at the Beiersdorf Icon Exchange event to be held at the Denver Art Museum on Thursday, 26 March 2026.

A Full Professor and immediate past Dean of the School of Clinical Medicine at UKZN, Dlova is a trailblazer in South African academia. She made history as the first African Dean of the School in its 73-year history. Her academic and research interests include ethnic skin and hair, global health, and Medical education.

An internationally respected scholar, Dlova has authored more than 135 scientific publications and holds a “B” rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF), reflecting the global recognition and impact of her work. She serves on numerous international dermatology boards and societies and continues to shape the global dermatology landscape.

Her many accolades include membership in the American Dermatology Association, the Maria Duran Award from the International Society of Dermatology, and her role as a board member of the International League of Dermatology Societies (ILDS), where she represents Africa as the first fully elected African representative in the organisation’s 89-year history.

In recent years, her excellence has been further recognised through several prestigious honours, including the Gold Award from the South African Medical Research Council (2024), the Fellowship in Arts and Sciences Award from the South African Medical Association (2024), and the UKZN Living Legends Award (2023), among others.

“I’m truly grateful and humbled by this recognition. I hope that through this accolade, I can inspire and encourage the next generation to dream bigger, work harder, and believe in the impact they can make,” said Dlova.

“Congratulations on this wonderful recognition. Looking at the criteria, you truly deserve it. Advancing scientific knowledge and building the next generation of dermatologists has been your signature. May you keep growing from strength to strength,” said Professor Busisiwe Ncama, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of UKZN’s College of Health Sciences.

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini