Dr Keo Tabane grew up in Hebron Village, 30 km North of Pretoria. She graduated in 1999 from MEDUNSA, followed by a qualification as a specialist physician in 2005 through the College of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA).

Dr Tabane qualified as a medical oncologist in 2008 and joined Sandton Oncology in July of 2008 where she is now a Director at the centre.

Dr Tabane is a member of the executive committee of the South African Society of Medical Oncology (SASMO) and is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the European Society Of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and was an executive member of the Breast Interest Group Of South Africa (BIGOSA).

Dr Tabane participates in clinical trials through the Sandton Oncology Research Unit and is a Principal Investigator and Sub Investigator on a number of international collaborative clinical trials.

Her main areas of interest are breast cancer, gynaecological cancers, and the treatment of various cancers with immunotherapy, which involves "correcting" the immune system to allow for better identification of cancers by the body's own immune mechanisms.

She is a strong believer in clear, yet compassionate communication, to allow patients to make appropriate and informed decisions about their care journey. Clear communication helps to ease an already difficult situation and helps make it more bearable.

She takes part in the Morningside Breast Care multidisciplinary panel, as she believes that patients' outcomes are improved when managed in a multidisciplinary environment with colleagues and various specialists.

Dr Tabane was recently awarded the Charlotte Mannye Maxeke award for Medical Excellence on 27 August 2019, held at UNISA.

Dr Tabane is married and is a Mother of two children.

"If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."
- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"Cancer is a diagnosis feared by many patients. At times, it is perceived that options are limited, and that the word cancer is often associated with pain, suffering and death.

I do not think many young people dream of becoming an oncologist, nor did I. I made a conscious choice to specialise in treating cancer, which I think is the most challenging, noble, yet humbling path of a doctoring career.

I was born in Hong Kong and grew up there in part then came to South Africa in 1993. The exposure that this provided, to two completely different, yet interesting environments gave me a good perspective and influence in life. With the notable differences between the East and West, I hope to combine the philosophy and ethos of the East, with the advanced science of the West, to create the harmony of treatment for my cancer patients.

Everyone is unique. My patients tell me so. My patients are all different, and they have different needs. Some are curable, and I walked the path with them for the ultimate goal of a cure. Whilst others may not have the same outcomes, I also walk the path with them for support and comfort. It is very important to me that they know that they are not alone in their journey with their illness.

Cancer is unique. Each cancer behaves differently, down to the DNA level. It is important to understand the cancer that affects each patient, and the patient's health, in order to individualize their treatment."

There are many advances in cancer treatment. It is no longer restricted to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. At Sandton Oncology, we strive to provide the latest treatment options to our patients, where appropriate. These include targeted therapy, immunotherapy and clinical trials.

Dr Chan obtained her MBBCh (Wits) in 2001. She completed her internship and community service at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and Elim Hospital respectively. She worked in the UK for one year as resident medical officer before returning to South Africa to specialize in internal medicine. She obtained her FCP(SA) in 2008.

Dr Chan received the Discovery Foundation Sub-Specialist Award in 2009 and sub-specialised in Medical Oncology at Wits and obtained her qualification, Cert Medical Oncology(SA) Phys, in 2010. She served and taught at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital until the end of 2013 before joining Sandton Oncology Centre.

In 2014, she obtained her MMed (Wits), with a research focus in lung cancer, entitled "EGFR mutations in non-small cell lung cancer patients in South Africa". This work was presented in the European Lung Cancer Conference in 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr Chan is the Director and head of the clinical trial research unit at Sandton Oncology. She is the principal and sub-investigator in many current and past global and local clinical trials. She is passionate in the molecular advances of cancer and in immunotherapy and strives to make these novel treatments available locally. She has a special interest in lung cancer and melanoma, among various cancers types.

Dr Chan believes that if we do not stay on top of the game with cancer, then cancer will get ahead of us and win.

Dr Chan actively participates in various local and international congresses and gives lectures and talks to doctors and communities regularly. She participates in advisory board meetings with various pharmaceutical companies. She is a member of SASMO, SAOC, ICON, IASLC, ESMO and ASCO.

Born in the city of Nairobi, Dr Omondi Ogude attended and completed high school at Sacred Heart College in Johannesburg, and attained his medical degree (MBChB) from The University of The Witwatersrand in 2005.

He did his internship at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, where he was awarded intern of the year and then completed a year's community service at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in 2007.

He went on to complete his specialist degree in Internal Medicine (Specialist Physician) and became a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 2011.

Dr Ogude then went on to super specialise in medical oncology, completed in 2014.

"Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people." - Roy T Bennett.

"I come from a family of doctors and I've always wanted to be a Doctor since I was younger. Personally, it invokes a strong desire within that I need to use my start point in life to positively influence the environment around me.

Assisting my patients throughout their journey with cancer, managing their illness and using both knowledge and compassion to walk the cancer journey with them are all important variables of their care pathway.

We live in a fascinating time of technology and health sciences. Modern healthcare has enabled people to live longer and healthier lives and when faced with disease or ailment, they have more options available to them than ever before.

Oncology is one of those fields where there has been much improvement in the management of cancer, where patients receive quality treatments that give them curative options, in some cases, and in others their treatment gives them the quality of life and dignity that they deserve." - Dr Yusuf Mayet.

Dr Mayet trained at the University of Witwatersrand completing his medical qualification (MBBCh) in 2007. Subsequent to this he did his internship at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, followed by a year of community service at the Johannesburg Metro Community Health Clinics. Dr Mayet then spent six months as medical officer in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto.

He did his post graduate training from 2011 at the University of the Witwatersrand and qualified as a Specialist Physician by obtaining his Fellowship of the College of Physicians in 2015. In 2016 Yusuf also achieved a Master of Medicine (MMed) degree in Internal Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, after submitting a dissertation entitled "Philadelphia Chromosome Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital." He then sub-specialised at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in the Department of Medical Oncology, and obtained his qualification Cert. Medical Oncology(SA) Phys in 2017.

Dr Mayet's special interests include Breast cancer, Lymphoma, Colon cancer, Prostate cancer, and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

'To me, becoming an Oncologist is a calling, not simply a profession.'
'Khalil Gibran said: out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.'
"His quote rings very true for me as I grew up in a family with a strong history of cancer and I personally witnessed the torment of those close to me. This inspired my passion for the healing power of science and technology which in turn cemented my pathway for becoming a Radiation Oncologist." - Dr S. Naidoo.

Dr Naidoo obtained his MBChB at MEDUNSA in 2007 and then completed his Radiation Oncology fellowship at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2014.
During his time as a registrar, Dr Naidoo won the best Registrar Poster Presentation in the country at the South African Society for Clinical and Radiation Oncology (SASCRO) 2013.
After qualifying as a Radiation Oncologist Dr Naidoo joined the de Mûelenaere Oncology Group in 2015 and is now one of the Directors of the group.
In June of 2016, Dr Naidoo completed his Master of Medicine in Radiation Oncology at the University of Witwatersrand. He was also asked to serve as the Radiation Oncology Advisor to the Ministry of Health South Africa between 2017-2021.

During his time in the Ministry of Health he contributed to the National Cancer Prevention and Control Plan for South Africa 2017-2022 and the development of policies for the treatment of Breast and Cervical Cancer.
Dr Naidoo developed and authored radiation treatment guidelines for the Cervical Cancer policy and authored the report "Radiation Oncology Crisis in South Africa" in 2017 for the Ministry of Health which led to the establishment of some Public Private Partnerships.

His other professional duties include:

• Reviewer for The South African Journal of Oncology (SAJO) Review 175 - [March 2021].
• Served as an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand (2018-2020).
• Served on the executive committee of the South African Society of Clinical and Radiation Oncology (SASCRO) [2017-2019].
• Executive member of the Morningside Breast Multidisciplinary Tumour Board.
• Founder and chairman of the Johnson-Rose Cancer Foundation.
• Member of the Sandton Medi Clinic Multidisciplinary Tumour Board.
• Member of the Breast Wellness Centre Multidisciplinary Tumour Board.

Dr Naidoo is also a member of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology.
He currently practices at the Sandton Oncology Centre, Ahmed Kathrada Cancer Institute, Life Fourways Hospital, Sunninghill Hospital and Krugersdorp Hospital.
Whilst Dr Naidoo treats various benign and malignant skin, bone, joint and muscle conditions, and diseases, He has a special interest in Breast Cancer, Gynae Oncology, GIT Cancers and Neuro Oncology.
His current passion is research and is currently on the path of attaining his PhD in Oncology.

"I have lived through the effects of cancer on close family and friends. This first-hand experience inspired me to pursue my studies in Oncology.

Having walked this road, I am determined to give my patients the care they need, and so rightfully deserve. I remain steadfast in my dedication to my patients, their families and have long ago resolved to make this walk with them - my life's work." - Dr Nirasha Chiranjan.

Dr Chiranjan completed her MBchB at the University of Cape Town in 2006. Following two years of internship at McCord's Hospital in Durban, Dr Chiranjan completed a year of community service at Evander Hospital in Mpumalanga. In 2010, she joined the Radiation Oncology Department at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

Dr Chiranjan was successfully admitted as a Fellow of the College of Radiation Oncologists in early 2014 and joined DMO in August of the same year, where she is now a senior partner.

She consults at the Ahmed Kathrada Cancer Institute, Sandton Oncology and the West Rand Oncology Centre and is part of a team of seven Oncologists that consult at the DMO locations.

Being available to the patient is of importance to us. Our Oncologists are available daily to our patients, throughout their treatment programme, and beyond for follow up care and are rostered on call, 24 / 7 - all year.

Dr Chiranjan treats a broad range of malignancies, with special interest in prostate, breast, gynaecological, head and neck, and central nervous system areas. She is an active participant in several multi-disciplinary forums related to cancer treatment and also has a keen interest in screening processes.

"My life and work philosophy comes from a strong sense of Kindness, Gratitude and Empathy. My interest in Oncology began during high school, where I would spend afternoons in the Oncology treatment room, with my grandmother who was receiving cancer treatment at the time. She is a cancer survivor and my source of inspiration. This personal experience allows me to connect with my patients, and their loved ones, with a deeper level of empathy whilst helping them through their cancer journey. It is a privilege for me to be part of my patient's story."

Dr Moodley completed her MBChB at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in 2007. Having served 2 years of internship at the R.K. Khan Hospital, she then moved to the Northern Cape. Dr Moodley completed her community service at the Kimberley Hospital Complex, where she spent a further ten months as a medical officer in Oncology. Dr Moodley started her specialisation at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in November 2016 and has been admitted as a Fellow of the College of Radiation Oncologists in 2021; where she joined DMO in the same year.

Dr Moodley has recently completed a Master's Degree at the University of the Witwatersrand, with her research focused on Prostate Cancer. She presented a case on Ultra-Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO), Breast Cancer Preceptorship in February 2021. Furthermore, Dr Moodley received certification through the University of Cape Town; in Palliative Care for the Oncologist in Africa, in July of 2021.

Dr Moodley works at the Sandton Oncology and West Rand Oncology Centres and is part of a team of seven Oncologists that consult at the DMO locations.

Being available to the patient is of importance to us. Our Oncologists are available daily to our patients, throughout their treatment programme, and beyond for follow up care and are rostered on call, 24 / 7 - all year.

"I constantly remind myself that this is the first time this patient is going through this process; therefore, I walk the road with this patient as a first-timer."

Dr Robbie de Mûelenaere completed his MBCHB in 1981 and MMed (Rad T) and FC Rad (Onc) in 1989 at the University of Pretoria.

Senior partner at DMO, Dr de Mûelenaere regularly attends local and international conferences, and has presented at several South African and one international conference - focusing on clinical work.

Dr de Mûelenaere was one of the pioneers of prostate brachytherapy in SA. He also started the stereotactic radiosurgery programme with Prof Jenny Wilson in 2002.

He started South Africa's (and possibly even Africa's) first Intensity Modulation Radiotherapy (IMRT) programme in 2003. His focus for 2015 and 2016 is stereotactic body radiotherapy.

His special interests include Prostate Brachytherapy, Head and Neck and Neurological cancers.

"Over 30 years ago, as a newly qualified medical doctor, I was attracted to the field of radiation oncology by its unique combination of intimate patient contact and care and a highly technologically advancing field of medicine. In addition, I realised that my interest in physics and mathematics would be fulfilled working in this field. Over the years the technological advances in the radiation oncology have revolutionised our treatment of cancer and it has been a fulfilling experience to be continuously challenged and stimulated by the developments and improvements that have been made. Oncology has been a flagship for all medical disciplines in the areas of research and evidence based medicine. Over the years I have been involved in many research projects and have papered more than 50 articles in peer reviewed journals. At DMO we aim to practice evidence based medicine, keeping up to date with all the latest developments in research and technology at all times.

50 years ago cancer was a dreaded disease that was never talked about because of its frequently dismal prognosis. It has been gratifying to see that this perception has changed over the years as we have come to realise that many patients can be cured and most can be helped with the available treatments. Gone are the days when health care professionals throw up their hands and say to their patients, "There is nothing we can do for you". I believe there are always options to improve a patient's symptomatology and quality of life. My job satisfaction comes from being able to achieve these goals. Radiation therapy is a treatment that is highly effective in improving the symptoms of cancer with a low incidence of debilitating complications."

After competing his M.B., B.Ch. at the University of the Witwatersrand in 1980, Prof Donde graduated with his M. Med. Rad(T) Radiation Oncology from the same institution, in 1989.

During this time (1984 to 1989) he was Registrar, Department of Radiation Oncology, Johannesburg Hospital and University of the Witwatersrand and, for 11 years following this, he consulted to and lectured in the Department of Radiation Oncology at this hospital and university, where he became Senior Specialist and Senior Lecturer. In 2001 Prof Donde was appointed Associate Professor and, in 2002, was promoted again - to the position of academic head of the Department of Radiation Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, where he was also a member of the Senate and the Executive Committee of the School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, as well as Chairman of Local Control for Radiation and of the Quality Control Committee at Johannesburg Hospital.

From 2004, Prof Donde was Chief Specialist of the Division of Radiation Oncology, Convener of the College of Medicine for examination in radiation oncology, and Secretary at the College of Radiation Oncologists, College of Medicine South Africa. He is also an Honorary Professor and a member of the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of the Witwatersrand. He joined the DMO team in 2009.