Dr Serrurier “] MBBCH [WITS], FC Plast. Surg. SA.

Dr. Serrurier trained as an undergraduate at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He qualified as a doctor in 1998. Thereafter he spent 3 years as a general surgical registrar on the WITS and 6 months in the UK as a specialist registrar in general surgery. He started training as a plastic surgeon in 2003 and qualified in 2008 at WITS. Since 2008 he has spent the last 10 years developing his craft as a plastic surgeon with major interests in breast reconstruction and cosmetics.

He was the head of the Plastic Surgery department at Helen Joseph hospital [the lead state breast reconstructive hospital in South Africa] from 2008 until 2012. And is now in full time private practice.

Academically, Dr. Serrurier has presented his work in South Africa on multiple occasions at both Plastic Surgical congresses and Onco-plastic congresses. He is one of the leading breast reconstructive surgeons in South Africa. His work has also been presented internationally at the World Congress of Surgery, the St. Gallen Breast cancer meeting, the Australasian plastic surgery meeting and at the ORBS meeting in Nottingham. His work has also been published in peer review academic journals and he has written multiple articles of interest that have been published in the press and supporting literature.

Introduction coming soon…

Dr. Ronwyn Van Eeden did her undergraduate degree in Pretoria, and then specialized in Internal Medicine, followed by a fellowship in Medical Oncology at the University of Witwatersrand. Dr. Van Eeden has a focus on breast cancer, especially younger patients. She has a special research interest in Immuno-Oncology and has published various articles as well as co-authored a book chapter on the topic. She has previously presented on immune related adverse events in both local and international meetings, including MASCC and ESMO. She is a member of the executive committee of the South African Society of Medical Oncology (SASMO) and a member of the Breast Interest Group of South Africa. (BIGOSA) She is also a reviewer for Journal of Global Oncology and teaches students part time at the university of the Witwatersrand. Dr. Van Eeden serves on local advisory boards and is further involved in local clinical and translational research in patients with breast cancer.

Introduction coming soon…

I am a breast cancer warrior/survivor, former elite/springbok distance runner, Oncology Patient Navigator, Breast Cancer exercise specialist and a motivational speaker. I had a remarkable recovery from my own breast cancer because of my fitness. Hearing the words, you have cancer strikes fear into the very depths of your soul. I was determined to turn that fear into something positive and realised that by sharing my story I could inspire, motivate, and educate other cancer patients and survivors. I have coached middle distance running for 4 years at the Fitness from Africa Running club. I have certifications in Oncology Patient Navigation from the Breast Health Foundation, the George Washington University, Washington DC USA. I am a member of the AONN Academy of Nurse and Patient Navigators (USA.) I work with the Breast Health foundation at the Helen Joseph Breast Care Centre. I have my CETI Cancer Exercise training institute USA, certification as a breast cancer exercise specialist. I am a brand Ambassador and partner with the Machi Filotimo Cancer project where I do Oncology patient navigation as well as survivorship care and exercise programs. Exercise is medicine without the side effects – Evidence based research has proven the benefits of exercise from a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual perspective.

Gritzman and Thatcher Inc is an independent pathology laboratory founded 31 years ago specialising in Cellular pathology and molecular pathology.

There are four partners and 4 associates, offering expertise in diagnostic anatomical pathology including breast pathology and dermatopathology. A full panel of diagnostic biomarkers is available on tissue sections including hormonal receptor stains, HER2 and KIi67. The molecular laboratory offers molecular based tests on tumour tissue including next generation sequencing (NGS) and BRCA1/2 testing.

The laboratory is accredited with the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) to the international medical standard for medical laboratories ISO 15189 and participates in international quality assurance programs including UK-NEQAS and RCPAQAP.

Introduction coming soon…

Qualified in 1980 with a BSc Physio (WITS) and has been a private practice owner in Rosebank since 1984 – special interests besides general physio are Craniosacral therapy and the treatment of lymphoedema.

Qualified in 2004 with a BSC Physio (WITS) and, after completing community service in northern KZN, worked at Bara for two years and then in London for one year. Has been in private practice in Johannesburg since 2007 – Special interest in sports physiotherapy

Sue Serebro graduated with a BSC (Hons) in physiotherapy in 1979. She has been the owner of a private practice since 1984, during which time she studied in the field of manipulative therapy and craniosacral therapy locally and internationally. She completed her first international Lymphoedema certification in 2007 in Australia and has subsequently received an international certification in Wound Care management and Lymphoedema. She also received an advanced certification in Lymphoedema based on the latest technology. She has completed shorter courses in the field of lymphoedema in Germany, Holland and America. Sue operates from two practices, one in Linksfield and the second at the Park Lane Clinic.

My Approach
I work therapeutically from a Solution Focused Brief Therapy perspective. This approach tends to lend itself to a shorter length of therapy than some of the more traditional approaches to counselling and therapy. This means that as soon as you reach your stated goals or desired outcomes, our time together usually ends. This can reduce the time commitments required for therapy whilst still hopefully reaching a satisfactory conclusion relating to the individual challenges that you have been through.

Therapy initially starts with regular appointments especially in the initial stages of counselling, and as progress is made – monthly ‘check-up’ sessions may be helpful in order to review changes that you have achieved subsequently and to ensure that you are maintaining that trajectory.

My Training
I completed an undergraduate degree at the University of Johannesburg. I then completed an honours degree through UNISA whilst maintaining a corporate career in executive recruitment for a number of years. More recently I completed a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology at Midrand Graduate Institute (now the Pearson Institute), followed by an internship at The Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development (PsyCaD) at the University of Johannesburg.

I have also completed a Master of Science degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Bangor University in the United Kingdom, the first programme of its kind to be accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS). This has fostered special interests in the areas of Health Psychology including recovery from health related challenges.
I am a Counselling Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and my practice is registered with the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF)

HPCSA registration number: PS 013 0753
BHF Practice number: 0661503

MANDY YOUNG

Mandy Young is the Practice Manager at ROCSI where she assists patients with all their administrative requirements, including guiding them with regards to their Oncology Benefits covered by their particular medical schemes. Mandy has a degree from Rand Afrikaans University (now known as The University of Johannesburg) in Corporate Communications.  She understands the importance of taking a patient-centred approach in every aspect of her job, and ensures that patients are respected, involved and feel in control. When Mandy is not working, she can be found having tea parties with her beautiful baby daughter, watching her pre-teen son play Fortnite and having cozy coffee dates with her husband. An admitted homebody, she can be found relaxing on the couch watching her favourite series on Sunday afternoons. Feel free to email her directly on admin@drserrurier.co.za with any administration related queries.

Breast for Life radiologists have specialised in female radiology and are experienced specifically in this field. Dr Priya Govender was Head of the Mammography Department at the Helen Joseph Hospital, and worked closely with Professor Carol-Ann Benn and Dr. Sarah Rayne for many years at the Breast Care Centre of Excellence. She has completed the Laszlo Tabar Breast Imaging courses. Dr. Keren Spiegal has a special interest in multimodality breast imaging, specifically Breast MRI and intervention. She has completed many courses including Multimodality Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Disease by Laszlo Tabar. Keren has a number of publications to her name both locally and in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, Australia and New Zealand.

Email: reception@breastforlife.co.za
Tel: 010 541 1387

Introduction coming soon…

Introduction coming soon…

MbChB (UCT) FCP (Wits.SA)

Dr Norton qualified as a specialist anesthetist in 1988.

She has been in private practice for 30 years, and has had vast experience in treating and anesthetizing patients in all surgical disciplines.

For the last 10 years, she has worked with Dr. Serrurier in providing excellent care to patients with breast cancer.

She is an expert in regional breast anesthesia and pain management, and in providing psychological support to the patients.

Her process involves contacting the patient before surgery to ensure the best care by inquiring about any existing medical conditions, which will be optimized for safe and successful surgery.

Management includes a post-op visit in order to ensure that the patient has begun her journey of recovery.

Dr Hildegard Steinmann qualified in 1999 as a doctor at Stellenbosch University. After her internship and community service she started her anaesthetic career at a small hospital, Yusaf Dadoo in Krugersdorp as a medical officer. In 2003 she worked in the UK as a senior house officer in anaesthesia in an Oxford university training hospital. Once she came back from the UK she specialised in anaesthesia at WITS, graduating in 2008. Working with Dr Serrurier, first in Helen Joseph and full time private from 2010 where her involvement and interest in breast reconstruction anaesthesia started. With a multimodal approach to pain management she aims to make her patient's journey through her breastcancer surgery and reconstruction as comfortable as possible. Her upbeat personality and calm approach to anaesthesia make her patients comfortable when they are vulnerable.

Dr Elizabeth Hart qualified as a Medical Practitioner at the University of Stellenbosch in 1989. She spent the next 7 years working in the hospital setting, both in South Africa and overseas. She spent 3 years working in Paediatrics and General Practice in the UK, New Zealand and Canada, and on returning to South Africa spent some years working in the Emergency and Trauma setting.

Dr Hart started her own General Practice in 1997, where she developed an interest in Wellness, disease prevention and Functional Medicine. She started working in the field of Breast Cancer and reconstructive surgery in 2005. The Survivorship role combines these interests and is a natural progression for her. She feels strongly that cancer is a multifaceted disease that requires a holistic approach to healing.

LIZE LINES-HOWSE

A cancer diagnosis is life changing and can be overwhelming. Lize Lines-Howse has been in the medical industry for over 38 years. As the Cancer Co-ordinator at ROCSI, she provides co-ordinated care by developing, monitoring, and evaluating interdisciplinary treatment during a patient's cancer journey.  She provides education, identifies concerns and refers patients and their families to available resources.  Lize is compassionate, dedicated, and motivated to empower patients and their families going through their cancer journey.  When not working, Lize is a self-professed bibliophile! She can often be found curled-up in a cozy armchair devouring the latest novel by her favourite author. She is also an avid gardener and a dotting grandmother to her four adorable grandchildren. Feel free to email her directly on reconstructioncentre@gmail.com with any queries you may have whilst going through this journey.