Professor Refiloe Masekela, a paediatric pulmonologist, has been honoured with an international World Lung Health Award from the American Thoracic Society. Picture: SUPPLIED
University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Head of Paediatrics and Child Health, Professor Refiloe Masekela, has received the prestigious American Thoracic Society (ATS) World Lung Health Award for her work.
“The award will be officially presented at the ATS International Conference later this year. This award recognises the outstanding contributions of individuals in improving global lung health through translational or implementation research, healthcare delivery, continuing education, patient care, or political advocacy. It has a strong emphasis on addressing gender, racial, ethnic, and economic health disparities,” said Professor Masekela.
With an impressive career spanning over 17 years in lung health research, Professor Masekela currently holds the distinguished position of National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Professor (2022–2027).
Her research is focused on paediatric asthma and lung physiological testing. Her work has significantly influenced the field of paediatric respiratory medicine, earning her international acclaim.
Beyond her research, Professor Masekela has earned multiple high-profile leadership roles in global lung health initiatives. She serves as the Co-Chair of the Global Asthma Network and the President of the Pan African Thoracic Society. Additionally, she is the Co-Chair of the Federation of Respiratory Societies (FIRS) Lung Health Task Force Steering Committee.
“I am truly honoured to receive this prestigious award, and it means a lot to me to be recognised for the work that I have done over the years. Mostly, I appreciate my family who have always stood by me and supported me through the years. They have been my cheerleaders through the good and bad times in my career,” said Professor Masekela.
As a prolific researcher, Professor Masekela has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to eight book chapters on paediatric respiratory diseases.
Her expertise is further recognised through her membership in leading global organisations, including; the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Scientific Committee, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Global Lung Initiative (GLI) Network Clinical Research Collaboration Committee, the ERS Long Range Planning Committee for the Paediatrics Assembly, and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Ethics and Conflict of Interest Committee.
At a national level, Professor Masekela is the current president of the South African Thoracic Society, underscoring her influence in shaping respiratory healthcare policies and practices in South Africa and beyond.
She is a dedicated mentor, having successfully supervised and graduated 36 PhD and Master’s students. Her commitment to building research capacity in Africa is evident through her role as Co-Director of the PATS-Methods in Epidemiological, Operational, and Clinical Research (MECOR) programme, an initiative spearheaded by the American Thoracic Society. She also serves as a faculty member of the Virtual ATS International Pediatric Pulmonology Research Academy (VIPPRA) programme and contributes as a mentor and reviewer for the USAID-funded SMART4TB Early-Stage Investigator programme.
Professor Masekela leads the African Paediatric Fellowship Training Programme, an ELMA-funded initiative aimed at enhancing paediatric and paediatric sub-specialist training across the African continent to improve child health outcomes.
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