Dr Aayesha Kholvadia
Addressing disparities in healthcare access between the public and private sectors
A casual visit to her uncle’s surgery in Carletonville, Gauteng, is all it took to inspire the young Aayesha Kholvadia to pursue a career in healthcare. True to form, after she completed her high school education, she enrolled for a degree in biokinetics. Today she is a senior lecturer and the Head of Department: Human Movement Science in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Nelson Mandela University.
Visit to uncle’s surgery
“My visits to my uncle’s surgery sparked an early interest in healthcare. I would help clean patients’ wounds or hold a tray during a procedure, fascinated by the healing process. Sometimes, I would act as a receptionist, listening to people’s stories, and observing how my uncle’s work impacted lives,” she says about her early influences. Her passion for health was further cemented after one of her relatives was struck by a lightning, a tragedy that needed long sessions of physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
Making a tangible impact
Dr Kholvadia’s family subsequently re-located to Port Elizabeth where she registered for an under-graduate degree in biokinetics at the University of Port Elizabeth. It was a completely new environment and experience for her, particularly as a young Muslim female of colour. She continued her studies in the same field until the PhD level, thanks to the financial support from the National Research Foundation (NRF). The funding not only enabled her to do further research, but it also made it possible for her to network and present her findings at various local and international forums. While doing her Master’s degree, she veered “into the use of whole-body vibrations therapy as a tool for improved health outcomes”. Today, she adds, I am proud to be part of a profession that allows me to make a tangible impact on people’s lives.
Enrolling for a PhD degree
The NRF funding came in handy given the fact that her family had limited financial means to pay for her studies. “As the eldest of three children, I was aware of the financial constraints my family faced, and the NRF funding provided a vital opportunity for me to continue my education. This support not only enabled me to complete my Master’s degree but also contributed to writing my first peer-reviewed publication,” says Dr Kholvadia. She moved back to Gauteng and enrolled for a PhD degree at Wits University focusing on the use photobiomodulation therapy to manage conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Disparities in healthcare access
Dr Kholvadia says currently her work involves the field of biokinetics and the exploration of collaborative patient-centred care, particularly within the context of rehabilitation medicine and public health. “My research focuses on using innovative therapies and methods to improve health outcomes for patients, with an emphasis on integrating advanced technologies and collaborative practices into healthcare,” she adds. A significant aspect of her work also involves supervising 11 Master’s and nine PhD postgraduate students. Says Dr Kholvadia: “I am guiding their research projects, which are often centred around improving preventative and allied healthcare measures in both the public and private sectors. My research group is dedicated to exploring the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes between different population groups, with the goal of developing sustainable solutions to bridge these gaps.”
She says her focus on innovative therapies and integrated healthcare practices aims to improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients, particularly in the areas of rehabilitation medicine and preventative care. Furthermore, she says, her research provides new pathways on how to manage chronic conditions by exploring advanced treatment modalities such as photobiomodulation therapy and whole-body vibration therapy.
Developing a pool of future healthcare professionals
Kholvadia’s main objectives as a health practitioner is to address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, especially between the public and private sectors. The focus on equitable care is crucial for South Africa, where disparities in access to healthcare services persist, she observes. She says mentoring postgraduate students and conducting research is her way of contributing to the development of future healthcare professionals and researchers. Dr Kholvadia believes this can meaningfully help drive progress and innovation within the field. In the end, she adds, this will lead to improved healthcare delivery and patient outcomes across the country and beyond.
Some of key milestones in her academic journey include successful completion of both her Master’s (in two years) and PhD degrees, particularly being the first member of her family to do. In 2023, Dr Kholvadia received the ASAIPA Healthcare Leadership Award in recognition of her work in the field.
