I have been involved in Reproductive Medicine
for the last 25 years. The interest really is due to the fact that
we had to go through similar trials and tribulations, although at
that stage technology was not as well developed. This prompted me to
get involved and I was responsible for initiating the Infertility
Unit at Grootte Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.
I believe that I am still as passionate about
this aspect of medicine as when I started, simply due to the fact
that it brings so much joy for those who succeed, but also being
able to share the experience of failure with those that don’t. The
management of these two aspects underscores the art of ART and
medicine as a whole.
The field has developed dramatically worldwide
and I have been fortunate enough to play a role in the success of
this discipline in South Africa. I believe that the ART technology
is of the highest standard and quality in South Africa and in our
Clinic in Port Elizabeth.
We believe that we have quality staff,
extremely compassionate, hand picked and well trained by ourselves.
We really try to take the cold clinical aspect out of our treatment
procedures and share the experience with our patients.
I believe that we offer a very personalized
service, due to small number put through our clinic. We have managed
to keep it like this for a production line type approach in
infertility is counterproductive to pregnancy outcome.
If you do decide to allow us to manage your
fertility problem, we hope you will succeed and that you do have a
pleasant experience with us.
Of all the medical problems faced by women the
inability to bear children is probably the most devastating -
medically, emotionally and socially. This was my main motivation to
involve myself in this field…
I studied medicine at the University of Cape
Town and specialised at Groote Schuur Hospital. Since 1982 I have
been in practice in Port Elizabeth and was instrumental in
establishing our Infertility unit..
We know that patients present with a complex
mix of dashed hopes, broken dreams, new hopes and promises. As a
specialist, I have to provide the couple with a realistic view of
their fertility prospect. Being honest and open and by involving the
patient in the decision making process, we keep them informed at all
times. We strive to avail patients of all necessary information.
Our personal emotional involvement is often
underestimated. We become soft targets for feelings of anger and
disappointment. We have to deal with that in a way that does not
influence the support that we give. The Fertility Team members are
never more than a phone call away.
The joy and excitement over a pregnancy has not
diminished over all these years and makes all the effort worthwhile!
Of all the medical problems faced by women the
inability to bear children is probably the most devastating -
medically, emotionally and socially. This was my main motivation to
involve myself in this field…
I studied medicine at the University of Cape
Town and specialised at Groote Schuur Hospital. Since 1982 I have
been in practice in Port Elizabeth and was instrumental in
establishing our Infertility unit..
We know that patients present with a complex
mix of dashed hopes, broken dreams, new hopes and promises. As a
specialist, I have to provide the couple with a realistic view of
their fertility prospect. Being honest and open and by involving the
patient in the decision making process, we keep them informed at all
times. We strive to avail patients of all necessary information.
Our personal emotional involvement is often
underestimated. We become soft targets for feelings of anger and
disappointment. We have to deal with that in a way that does not
influence the support that we give. The Fertility Team members are
never more than a phone call away.
The joy and excitement over a pregnancy has not
diminished over all these years and makes all the effort worthwhile!
I’m a nursing sister who has been involved in
this unit since 1999 and am now in a management position. I grew up
on a farm, matriculated in Joubertina and graduated at the
University of Port Elizabeth. I am married and have two children
whom I believe are the best things that ever happened to me. I
therefore love being part of a team whose medical purpose is “giving
life” where life was not possible.
Working in a speciality field that is fraught
with hopes and dreams, disappointments and grief, unpredictability
and ethical dilemmas, a fertility sister puts herself at the
disposal of the patients in the treatment process. We often have to
account for the shortcomings of science in not providing couples
with a pregnancy. We become deeply involved with all our patients
and we take our patients through the total process of their
treatment. This incorporates many skills, nursing, theatre work,
counseling, consulting, coordination, communication and education.
We share in the joy and shattered hopes of patients. We often become
disheartened seeing so much disappointment and depression. On the
other hand, our spirits are revived every time a pregnancy test
comes out positive.
I am a firm believer that all life is created
by God and that He certainly uses us in the medical profession to
achieve the gift of life for childless couples – in His time.
I am the Senior Embryologist / Lab Manager and
obtained my M.Med.Sc from the University of Stellenbosch and was
trained by the renowned Tygerberg Fertility Clinic under the
watchful eye of Prof Thinus F Kruger. Coming from an academic
background and although relatively new to the IVF field, my goals
for the laboratory and the clinic are to improve the pregnancy rates
and initiate new and state-of-the-art technologies into the program.
I am a really compassionate person, always ready to listen and
answer any questions. I believe that honesty is the best
policy and therefore ensure that any decisions should be taken in
conjunction with the patient. I also hope that although the
patients are at our clinic for medical treatment, they eventually
feel like they are coming to see friends and not just doctor, nurses
and lab staff. I would still like to see the clinic and
laboratory become one of the front runners in embryology research
and me attaining my ultimate dream….a doctorate degree in
reproductive biology.
I am the
program coordinator at our Unit and have been on board since 2003. I
was born and bred in the Eastern Cape and did my training at the
Provincial Hospital in Port Elizabeth. Although I am the mother of
two, I thoroughly enjoy my career and am very passionate about it. I
get a lot of support from my family, which enables me to take part
in all aspects of the treatment process with patients. I really
enjoy the intense patient-nurse interaction and I am involved with
each patient from the first interview, through routine visits, doing
counseling, assisting in theatre as well as follow up calls and
visits. Going the extra mile is the norm and usually much needed.
To share the life changing experience with our
patients is a great privilege – sometimes with great joy and
sometimes with great disappointment. Our dedicated team of
professionals strives to make this process as pleasant and easy as
possible for our patients. Due to the caring and friendly
environment that we create, we form good, ongoing relationships with
our patients.
I am proud to be associated with a highly
qualified team of professionals who always puts the needs of
patients first and strives for excellence.
I am relative newcomer in the vast and exciting
field of reproductive technology. Although only working full time at
the Fertility & Wellness center since 2003, I was previously working
and studying under the guidance of my father Jaco Schoeman. He was
involved in the formation of this clinic, and was passionate about
this work. I completed my studies in biomedical technology at the
NMMU, after which I furthered my studies specializing in
reproductive sciences through CUT working closely with Tygerburg
Hospital.
I feel privileged to be working with highly
qualified and motivated professionals, always striving to make this
roller coaster ride as easy as possible for our patients. I am
convinced that as our Unit grows we will be recognized as one of the
leaders in infertility. It is my mission to constantly be searching
for new techniques, always striving to improve our success rate, to
materialize the dream of a childless couple to have a family of
their own.
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