UKZN Dean on the Winning Trail Again

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Internationally respected Dermatologist and Dean of UKZN’s School of Clinical Medicine Professor Ncoza Dlova has won two national awards – first prize in the Leadership Excellence section at the South African Health Excellence Awards and runner-up for the Global Excellence Award.

The awards are hosted by the Clinix Health Group in partnership with the South African Clinician Scientists’ Society.

Earlier this year, Dlova and a team of scientists discovered the root cause of Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA), one of the most common causes of scarring alopecia among African women. CCCA is defined as hair loss or spot balding that starts from the central (crown) part of the scalp and progresses outward in a circular pattern. CCCA causes the destruction of the hair follicles leading to scarring and permanent hair loss.

Dlova’s world first discovery received international acclaim.

The Global Excellence award is in recognition of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to medicine at an international level, through research, training or innovation. The Leadership Excellence award is for an individual who has demonstrated great leadership in any area of medicine, within a university, corporate sector or hospital environment, or in healthcare management, with a proven track record and an undisputed contribution to strengthening the South African healthcare system.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Busisiwe Ncama congratulated Dlova. ‘Ncoza has made remarkable headway in the School of Clinical Medicine. Not only has she brought international acclaim to UKZN through her novel study but she has also managed to transform the School in a very short space of time. I am so proud of her. She is a true leader,’ said Ncama.

Words: MaryAnn Francis

Photograph: Supplied