Sindisiwe van Zyl
South African physician, radio DJ, and columnist (1976–2021)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sindisiwe van Zyl (née Mahamba-Sithole; 3 April 1976 – 10 April 2021) was a Zimbabwean-born South African[3][4][5] physician, radio DJ, columnist, health activist and researcher known for using social and mainstream media to share HIV-related, mental health, reproductive health, other medical and public health information.[6][7][8][9][1][10] She won several awards for her work.[11][12] Because of her extensive public health advocacy, she was known as "the people's doctor".[13][14]
Doreen Sindisiwe van Zyl | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 3 April 1976 |
| Died | 10 April 2021 (aged 45) |
| Other names | Sindi, Dr Sindi, Doc Sindi |
| Citizenship | South African |
| Alma mater | University of Pretoria (BSc, MB ChB) |
| Occupations | Physician, radio DJ, columnist |
| Spouse |
Marinus van Zyl
(m. 2004; died 2021) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Website | web |
Early life and education
Van Zyl was born on 3 April 1976 in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe).[15] For secondary education she attended Arundel School.[16] For tertiary education she attended the University of Pretoria, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in human physiology and psychology and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree.[17] Dr Sindisiwe Van Zyl interned at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.[18] In 2004, she married Marinus van Zyl.[19]
Career
She used Twitter, mainly, to inform and engage about HIV particularly prevention of mother-to-child transmission. She also appeared frequently on TV, radio and other media platforms.[10] She shared about her personal journey with depression and physician burnout.[20][7] Dr. van Zyl chronicled how she lost 41 kg while on a Banting diet.[21] She was a natural short sleeper requiring about 4 hours of sleep per night while functioning normally.[22] Her scientific research has included guidelines to support HIV-affected individuals and couples to achieve pregnancy safely[23] and COVID-19 and HIV co-infection.[24] She held various roles in the South African Medical Association.[25] She was a member of Médecins Sans Frontières Southern Africa's Board of directors.[26] Because of her extensive public health advocacy, she was known as "the people's doctor".[1]
Her media affiliations included:
Death
Awards and honors
- Mail & Guardian (2012) 200 Young South Africans[11]
- Glamour Women of the Year (2018) - awarded for excellence and activism in health and medicine[12]
- Amref Health Africa posthumous Africa Health Agenda International Conference 2023 Women in Global Health Award[38]