Walter Sisulu MBChB graduate, Dhavina Naidoo, has reached an incredible career milestone with her appointment as the physician for the Springboks Women’s (SBW) rugby team.
Born and bred in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the 34-year-old doctor obtained her MBChB degree from Walter Sisulu in 2015, laying the ground for a successful career in medicine.
With medical experience in rugby and cricket at provincial and national levels, Naidoo was well-positioned when the opportunity to work for the SBW team arose.
“This appointment means a great deal to me. It is a privilege to work with the Springbok Women’s team; a group of incredibly dedicated athletes who not only work hard on the field but are also exceptional individuals off it. The management team has been welcoming and supportive, which has made the transition very meaningful,” said Naidoo.
Raised in a highly athletic family, with a mother who played netball and a father who played soccer, Naidoo developed a deep love for sports from an early age.
Marrying that passion with her desire to help others felt like a natural progression in her path to choosing a career in medicine.
“I always knew I wanted to go into medicine because I wanted to help people. Being able to combine those two passions felt like a natural fit, and it has led me to a career I find incredibly fulfilling; one where I can still be on the sidelines, but now in a role supporting and caring for athletes,” she said.
Although breaking into sports medicine was not an easily accessible path during her studies, Naidoo forged forward, empowering herself with further qualifications, including a Master of Science Degree (Sports Medicine) obtained from the University of Pretoria, and a PhD (Sports and Exercise Medicine), which she is currently pursuing at UP.
Going into her role as the SBW’s physician, Naidoo plans to bring a holistic approach to the physical and mental health of players.
“My philosophy is to always treat the person as a whole, not just the athlete. Athletes are still human beings first. So, for me, it’s about understanding the full context of who they are, both on and off the field, and supporting them in a way that reflects that,” she expressed.
Naidoo credited her alma mater, Walter Sisulu, for her early career development, citing extensive clinical exposure that began very early in her degree.
“I am so proud to have graduated from the MBChB programme at Walter Sisulu. It taught me about work-life balance from a very early age, and I attribute my strong work ethic to the institution,” said Naidoo.
While her academic and professional journey was not always easy, Naidoo said that staying committed and confident, especially as a young woman, created opportunities to succeed in fields like sports medicine, despite doubt.
