Nurses Symposium Speakers

I qualified with A BNursing degree from Wits.

I am currently employed by The Mary Potter Oncology Centre in Pretoria, and have been with them for 24 years in oncology. I have done almost every job in the practice from: chemotherapy administration and mixing. I have done medical

• helpdesk;
• stemcell co-ordinator;
• data work;
• authorizations;
• chemotherapy motivations;
• accounts;
• accreditation;
• MCC section 21 applications;
• medical reception;
• in-patient work as well as out-patient work.

I have lectured; been published; been on radio and education.

I offer patient information groups.

I’ve been part of the development of nursing guidelines in RSA and have helped in the writing of training manuals.

Caroline Rich trained as a Diagnostic Radiographer at GSH and graduated in 1991. She then travelled the world and worked as a locum Radiographer in England and Australia. Upon her return she started working in the pharmaceutical industry and has been working within the field of Oncology and Haematology for the past 23 years. This has given her much understanding and knowledge of this field, and she has attended many congresses in this regard. She was a member of The Igazi Foundation (Haematology) as a volunteer and was very involved with many of their educational projects, upgrading of state facilities, working with the CMS, part of the CMS putting together PMB’s, and initiated the Nurses Leukaemia Training Symposiums in order to generate an interest in Haematology nursing. She then spearheaded and organized the only online Nurses Haematology Training Course in South Africa, as there was a need for theoretical training of Haematology Nurses. She has a passion for this field with the focus on the patient and improving and saving the lives of those patients afflicted with Haematological cancers and disorders.

Dr Heather McLoughlin has been involved in working with cancer patients since 1993.She started off as an information consultant following a masters degree in Information science where she studied the information needs of cancer patients. By 1997 it had become clear to her that combining information provision with psychotherapy for the cancer patients she was working with would contribute to a holistic service. She continued her studies at RAU and completed her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology in 2002. Her D Litt et Phil was completed at the University of Johannesburg in 2005. She is currently in private practice specializing in Medical Psychology at Pretoria East Private Hospital.

Her Practice includes Psychotherapy for medical trauma both pre and post operatively, psycho oncology, arthroplasty preparation and relationship related therapy as well as psycho education related to patient and carers in the hospital setting. Preparation assessment and postoperative support for patients who undergo deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson’s disease and their families is a further extension of the practice. Her practice has expanded to further include patients and their families in the Alberts Cellular Therapy Transplant Unit at Pretoria east Hospital where her interest and experience in psycho oncology is valuable.

Ina qualified as a professional nurse through the University of Pretoria in 2013. She obtained a diploma in palliative care the following year and went on to study oncology nursing through the University of Cape Town, becoming a registered oncology nurse in 2018. She also completed a post graduate diploma in nursing management and administration around the same time. Ina holds certificates for dispensing, lymphedema and wound care all obtained through the University of Cape Town.

Ina is currently the Clinical Nurse Manager at Haemalife in Cape Town, having more than 10 years of experience in a variety of oncology settings around the country. She describes herself as being results-driven, striving to achieve the desired outcome and solution.

Pieter le Roux is an IMAGO Clinical Therapist as well as a qualified Business and Life Coach. In 2008 he joined a Wholeness Center in Fairland, Johannesburg where he was involved in Pastoral therapy on a full-time basis. In 2013 he opened a private practice to focus on Couples Therapy, Coaching, Consulting and Facilitating.

In 2014 he was diagnosed with a t-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He was treated by Dr. Karen Gunther and through a rigorous chemo-process and a bone marrow transplant he is fully healed today.

Through this experience he is now employed by Dr. Karen Gunther on a full-time basis. Here he guides and supports patients and families through a difficult time of their lives. He has developed a unique process to help patients contain and diffuse the trauma and redirect their focus towards healing.

Pieter has a passion for human development. He sees relationships as crucial to the success of any individual or business and assists them to function within healthy relationships.

His motto in life is: “Full aliveness through connection”.

I have been married for 32 years and have 2 children aged 26 and 28.

I have been nursing since 1985.

I worked in the oncology ward at Unitas hospital for 4 years then I left to work at ABJ oncology for 13 years.

I worked as the outpatient manager at the Pretoria East Transplant unit for Dr Brittain and partners (Albert cellular therapy) for 13 years. I am part of the team that achieved the European Jacie accreditation. I am now in the authorisation department.

I have presented at numerous conferences, arranged several nurse’s sessions at conferences and written a few articles.

Working in haematology is very challenging and rewarding. Haematology is a totally different game to oncology. It is a very interesting and stimulating field. You learn something new every day. We are an awesome team, who really go the extra mile for the patients.

Deloshini lives in Chatsworth Durban, and after matric in 1994, she studied as a teacher at Springfield College of Education for four years, obtaining a Higher Diploma of Education specializing in mathematics and natural science. She did not remain long in this profession, and pursued her passion, being nursing, and after four years, graduated at the RK Khan Campus in 2002 with a Diploma in General Nursing, Community, Midwifery and Psychiatry. Later, she completed a diploma in Oncological and Surgical nursing at UKZN in 2010.

She is currently employed at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital in Cato Manor, Durban and has been part of the Haematology Unit since 2006. The Bone Marrow Transplant unit was commissioned in 2007, and she has been involved with assisting with transplants in this unit since then. She has been a speaker at previous Haematology conferences in SA. These opportunities are rare for state sector nurses, and she embraces the challenge to be able to participate and contribute to the learning environment.

She loves Haematology/Oncology and is passionate about ensuring patients receive holistic care. Patient’s face various difficulties and challenges in the state sector and making a difference in their lives is very important to her.