Kimberley born Dr Donald Simon specialist physician and pulmonologist has dedicated his PhD in Molecular Biology that was awarded to him by the University of Stellenbosch, to his mother who supported and inspired him
Kimberley born Dr Donald Simon specialist physician and pulmonologist has dedicated his PhD in Molecular Biology that was awarded to him by the University of Stellenbosch, to his mother who supported and inspired him.
Stellenbosch University (SU) spokesperson Hannelie Booyens last week said this was the fourth degree conferred to Dr Simon by the university.
“His exceptional academic career spans over 20 years. His journey from an impoverished township outside Kimberley to becoming a clinician scientist is a testament to his hard work and sacrifice.”
She added that Dr Simon overcame hardships to excel in his field and specialise in internal medicine and pulmonology.
“He grew up in an informal settlement with his mother. She worked as a domestic worker as she never had the opportunity to attend school. His father, a security guard suffered from epilepsy, while his older brother was stabbed to death when Dr Simon was 15 years old.”
Booyens stated that both Dr Simon’s parents passed away within a year of each other while he was still a student.
“They tragically never witnessed their son graduating as a medical doctor in 2007 – or receiving a Rector’s Award for succeeding against the odds.”
She added that Dr Simon’s Afrikaans-speaking background was put to good use where he tutored his fellow students who struggled with the language.
“While working as a research clinician in the Immunology Research Group at SU’s Tygerberg campus, Dr Simon began to merge his clinical expertise with his passion for research. This fusion of disciplines led to his PhD in Molecular Biology, made possible by an academic fellowship award by the Discovery Foundation and the Professor Bongani Mayosi Netcare Clinical Scholarship.”
Dr Simon explained that he grew up in a violent neighbourhood.
“My mother instilled in me from an early age that the only way out of poverty was through academic success. She worked her fingers to the bone to get me into a good school. She made significant sacrifices by sending her meagre salary to me when I didn’t have any financial support. I always wanted to make her proud.
“Although she died before my academic career came to fruition, the lessons she taught me and the sacrifices she made remained my biggest inspiration to succeed.
“It has always been important to me to prove to myself and others that you can be whatever you want to be, regardless of your circumstances. Just because you come from a shack as I do, does not mean that you cannot dream big,”
He indicated that his doctoral research focused on identifying protein signatures and using PET-CT imaging to determine which tuberculosis (TB) patients could benefit from shorter treatment courses.
“This work has the potential to revolutionise TB treatment, particularly in South Africa, where the disease remains a leading cause of death.
“At present all TB patients receive six months of treatment. My research focused on identifying patients (85 percent) who could benefit from a shorter treatment period of four months.,” he explained.
As a lung specialist, he added that he was deeply committed to addressing non-infective lung diseases, particularly interstitial lung diseases such as lung fibrosis.
“These diseases are often neglected in South Africa.”
He stated that his passion for his work was ignited during his internship in Kimberley.
“I encountered former mine workers suffering from asbestos-related lung diseases. Our economy was built on the backs of mine workers, yet their health is often overlooked,” he noted.
Dr Simon expressed his gratitude to his lecturers at SU as well as his supervisor and life long mentor Professor Gerhard Walzl.
“Before I embarked on my PhD journey, Professor Walzl believed in me and saw something that I did not see in myself.”
He indicated that his partner Professor Paolo Denti, who worked at the University of Cape Town, offered him the support needed to complete his studies.
“Medicine can be an extremely punishing career and one’s family sacrifices a lot. Denti, some wonderful friends and family kept me sane throughout my PhD journey.”
Dr Simon who intends to become a clinician scientist, will embark on a post-doctoral fellowship next year at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands where he aims to specialise in lung medicine.
He hopes to return to South Africa to share his rare skills, enhance clinical practice and research, lecture and address neglected areas of lung medicine in South Africa.
“My goal is to marry clinical work with research and inspire the next generation of medical professionals.”
