Breaking barriers in a predominantly male-dominated sector, the only two black female radiologists in the Eastern Cape’s private sector have teamed up to form Triple M Radiologists, a private practice based in East London.
Dr Nwabisa Macingwane-Ngcuka from Ngcobo and Dr Nomhle Makaula-Chimusoro from Mount Frere, who completed their registrar training at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, decided to bring their skills back home and help boost a speciality with an extreme shortage.
Currently, including Triple M, the Eastern Cape only has four private radiology practices based in Port Elizabeth, Queenstown and East London.
“Unfortunately radiologists are scarce. Frere Hospital only has one part-time radiologist and Cecilia Makiwane has two part-time radiologists, Makaula-Chimusoro said.
Speaking from their Southernwood offices Macingwane- Ngcuka said Triple M Radiologists was established in 2012, but actual operations began in October 2013.
Dr Zukisa Mabusela oversees the Mthatha branch which opened in October last year at the new Mthatha Private Hospital.
“We are service providers for that hospital. In that practice we do emergency radiology as well as walk-in patients who are referred by doctors around Mthatha and the surrounding towns.”
Macingwane-Ngcuka said Triple M was born when she, together with Makaula-Chimusoro and another radiologist from the Eastern Cape, completed their training and wanted to return home.
The third radiologist opted to open a different practice in Queenstown and is not part of the company.
The name Triple M was a reflection of the first letter of all three radiologists’ surnames, but it has since gained new meaning and been adopted into their mission statement.
Macingwane-Ngcuka said the Ms now spoke to meaningful community contribution, medical professionalism and mastering technology.
They employ 10 people in total – five in Mthatha and five in East London.
“You know when you come into a space where there has never been a second private practice…we knew we had to be vigilant, we had to pay attention to detail in setting up the practice.
“Our typical client would be the referring physicians, doctors, GPs and surgeons,” Macingwane-Ngcuka said.
Triple M provides a range of services and have been doing a lot of mammograms.
“Government actually pushes for women to be screened for breast cancer, so we get a lot of those,” Macingwane-Ngcuka said.
According to Makaula-Chimusoro, radiology is at the heart of patient management as it assists in determining diagnosis and treatment for patients.
“Radiologists are the only people able to say…this lump is an abscess which you can drain or an aneurysm you mustn’t touch otherwise the patient will bleed to death.” — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
Two for Triple M are first
Dr Nwabisa Macingwane-Ngcuka from Ngcobo and Dr Nomhle Makaula-Chimusoro from Mount Frere, who completed their registrar training at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, decided to bring their skills back home and help boost a speciality with an extreme shortage.
Currently, including Triple M, the Eastern Cape only has four private radiology practices based in Port Elizabeth, Queenstown and East London.
“Unfortunately radiologists are scarce. Frere Hospital only has one part-time radiologist and Cecilia Makiwane has two part-time radiologists, Makaula-Chimusoro said.
Speaking from their Southernwood offices Macingwane- Ngcuka said Triple M Radiologists was established in 2012, but actual operations began in October 2013.
Dr Zukisa Mabusela oversees the Mthatha branch which opened in October last year at the new Mthatha Private Hospital.
“We are service providers for that hospital. In that practice we do emergency radiology as well as walk-in patients who are referred by doctors around Mthatha and the surrounding towns.”
Macingwane-Ngcuka said Triple M was born when she, together with Makaula-Chimusoro and another radiologist from the Eastern Cape, completed their training and wanted to return home.
The third radiologist opted to open a different practice in Queenstown and is not part of the company.
The name Triple M was a reflection of the first letter of all three radiologists’ surnames, but it has since gained new meaning and been adopted into their mission statement.
Macingwane-Ngcuka said the Ms now spoke to meaningful community contribution, medical professionalism and mastering technology.
They employ 10 people in total – five in Mthatha and five in East London.
“You know when you come into a space where there has never been a second private practice…we knew we had to be vigilant, we had to pay attention to detail in setting up the practice.
“Our typical client would be the referring physicians, doctors, GPs and surgeons,” Macingwane-Ngcuka said.
Triple M provides a range of services and have been doing a lot of mammograms.
“Government actually pushes for women to be screened for breast cancer, so we get a lot of those,” Macingwane-Ngcuka said.
According to Makaula-Chimusoro, radiology is at the heart of patient management as it assists in determining diagnosis and treatment for patients.
“Radiologists are the only people able to say…this lump is an abscess which you can drain or an aneurysm you mustn’t touch otherwise the patient will bleed to death.” — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos