Professor Mmamosheledi (Mamza) Mothibe – Head of the Division of Pharmacology, in the Faculty of Pharmacy, at Rhodes University

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Professor Mmamosheledi (Mamza) Mothibe, who is Head of the Division of Pharmacology, in the Faculty of Pharmacy, at Rhodes University. We discuss some of her responsibilities in this role, from teaching and developing a curriculum that meets the criteria of the Pharmacy Council to managing the pharmacology division.

Prof. Mothibe shares a few of her pharmacology research interests, which includes indigenous knowledge systems – focussing on the pharmacology and toxicology of medicinal plants/herbal medicines particularly African Traditional Medicine. She also discusses her work with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) to better regulate commercial products that arise from traditional medicine that are safe and efficacious.

Prof. Mothibe is a member of several professional organisations, namely South African Society for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (SASBCP); South African Association of Health Educationalists (SAAHE); Toxicology Society of South Africa (TOXSA) and South African Society of Clinical Pharmacy (SASOCP). She shares how being part of various professional bodies accelerated her development, exposed her to peers and leaders, and enabled her to be part of steering the future of disciplines.

Education has played a prominent role throughout Prof. Mothibe’s career, and she reminds us that life is not a straight line, there will be challenges in our paths as well as opportunities, but if you keep focussing on your dreams the vision will come to fruition. Tune in for more…