Pieter-Paul S. Robbertse

I am researcher-clinician that strives to improve the understanding of cardiovascular related issues in a resource constrained South Africa. I completed my MBChB degree cum laude at Stellenbosch University in 2015 and my PhD on cardiovascular disease in HIV-infected persons in 2022. My interest in cardiology and diagnostics have been combined with pressing HIV-related questions. I am currently hosted as a post-doctoral fellow at The Division of Cardiology, Tygerberg Hospital where I am involved with cardiovascular disease research in a high HIV-burden setting. I completed my cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR)-fellowship under the mentorship of Dr PG Herbst and I have been certified by the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) as a level II CMR physician (currently the only other EACVI level II or higher CMR reader in South Africa). I am involved with the reporting of CMR-examinations for clinical practice and I have 4 years’ research experience with CMR. I see a future for myself in clinical research and I am laying the groundwork to be permanently engaged with cardiovascular diagnostics and to establish an imaging-based research unit in South Africa.