ABOUT THE DISCOVERY FOUNDATION
our commitment
Set up in 2006 as one element of Discovery Limited’s Black Economic Empowerment transaction, the Discovery Foundation, an independent trust, aimed to invest R150 million in grants that were geared towards the education and training of 300 healthcare specialists over a period of 10 years. South Africa is experiencing a critical shortage of healthcare resources. The grants disbursed by the Discovery Foundation Awards aim to address this challenge by training specialists for rural areas, developing academic medicine and research centres and increasing the number of sub-specialists in the country to adequately meet the country’s healthcare needs. READ MORE
Set up in 2006 as one element of Discovery Limited’s Black Economic Empowerment transaction, the Discovery Foundation, an independent trust, aimed to invest R150 million in grants that were geared towards the education and training of 300 healthcare specialists over a period of 10 years. South Africa is experiencing a critical shortage of healthcare resources. The grants disbursed by the Discovery Foundation Awards aim to address this challenge by training specialists for rural areas, developing academic medicine and research centres and increasing the number of sub-specialists in the country to adequately meet the country’s healthcare needs.
Over the past 11 years, the Discovery Foundation surpassed expectations and invested over R189 million in grants to support academic medicine through research, development and the training of medical specialists in South Africa. Its aim is to invest R300 million towards specialised healthcare services over 20 years. These grants include scholarships, bursaries, research fellowships and support for teaching and research institutions. The Discovery Foundation Awards honour and reward excellence in our country’s healthcare sector.
South Africa has a great medical legacy of research, invention, and technological innovation – we were the first country to show the world how to do heart transplants and we invented the CAT scan, which is used worldwide. South Africa is home to talented medical experts, outstanding academic institutions and excellent private healthcare services. Even so, the majority of South Africans are unable to afford anything more than the most basic healthcare services and the facilities they depend on are often overburdened, understaffed and underfunded. The Discovery Foundation is committed to making a contribution to the future health and wellbeing of all South Africans to ensure affordable, quality healthcare is accessible to all.
Through the considered interventions of the Discovery Foundation in the healthcare industry, we believe we can bring quality healthcare infrastructure and services within reach of many communities who have previously not had access, while keeping the high standards of our country’s private healthcare system and safeguarding our legacy.
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TO COMMUNITIES AND DOCTORS
Supporting doctors and facilities in rural communities means better healthcare, a constant supply of aspiring students and better.
TO research
An investment in research is an investment in the future, as we strive to finance research that leads to much-needed treatment and preventative medicines.
TO RECOGNITION
The healthcare profession is often lonely and thankless. We are committed to ensuring that those in every element of the field receive the acknowledgment their efforts deserve.
ABOUT THE DISCOVERY FOUNDATION
Understanding the challenges in our healthcare sector
To understand the key areas of concern and need in South Africa’s healthcare sector, the Discovery Foundation commissioned in-depth independent research. The aim of the research was to understand what medical skills and expertise are needed to give disadvantaged communities access to better healthcare – and what steps are needed to keep those skills and develop them further.
LACK OF SKILLED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
South Africa does not have enough skilled medical professionals in all areas of healthcare to meet its people’s needs.
LACK IN TRAINING
The country is not training enough people to address the gaps, although government is starting to address this issue.
NO QUICK FIXES
Medical education is a long and expensive process, so it is not possible to use quick fixes to address the problem.
FEW SKILLED SPECIALISTS
There are not enough skilled and experienced specialists to teach medical skills.
URBANISATION OF SPECIALISTS
Medical skills are concentrated in urban areas and medical specialists are leaving the rural areas where they are most needed.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
There are several environmental issues – such as working and living conditions – that contribute to these problems.
Discovery Foundation’s Investment
OUR INVESTMENT
Over the past 10 years, the Discovery Foundation has invested over R189 million in grants to support academic medicine through research, development and the training of medical specialists in South Africa.
Its aim is to invest R300 million towards specialised healthcare services over 20 years. These grants include scholarships, bursaries, research fellowships and support for teaching and research institutions. The Discovery Foundation Awards honour and reward excellence in our country’s healthcare sector.
DISCOVERY FOUNDATION AWARDS
The Discovery Foundation
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL AWARD
Given the importance of cultivating teaching excellence and clinical research in South Africa the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Award is aimed at boosting South Africa, as a leading hub internationally for clinical research and science.
The Discovery Foundation
ACADEMIC FELLOWSHIP AWARDS
The recipients will receive funding for postgraduate research or for use as a salary. The recipients will have the opportunity to take on a period of full-time study and research towards Masters or Doctoral degrees.
The Discovery Foundation
SUB-SPECIALIST AWARDS
This award aims to improve medical skills by boosting Sub-specialist training and Academic Medicine in South Africa. The awards also aim to contribute towards the research output of departments that receive funding.
The Discovery Foundation
RURAL FELLOWSHIP AWARDS
Discovery Foundation Awards for healthcare in rural and underserved areas aims to attract and retain medical doctors in rural areas by facilitating access to resources and opportunities to develop professionally.
The Discovery Foundation
EXCELLENCE AWARD
This award aims to boost healthcare resources by recognising an organisation that shows excellence in education, service delivery, training and innovation over the long term.
PAST RECIPIENTS
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PAST WINNERS
Dr Ahmad Haeri Mazanderani
Discovery Foundation Academic Fellowship Award winner 2015
“Essentially, this research will inform diagnostic practices and could even assist in reducing HIV -associated childhood morality rates.”
PAST WINNERS
Dr Busiswe Cawe
Discovery Foundation Rural Fellowship Individual 2015 award winner
“The gaps identified during the research – including the patterns of missed opportunities, avoidable factors and problems with quality of care – will inform the types of interventions to improve the outcomes and experiences of woman.”
PAST WINNERS
Dr Fikile Mabena
Sub -Specialist Award 2015 Award Winner University of the Witwatersrand, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sub – Speciality – Paediatric Infectious Diseases
“I am grateful for the opportunity to study in this regard and able to contribute to high quality patient care in the management of infectious diseases in children.”
PAST WINNERS
Dr Thulja Trikamjee
Sub-Specialist Award 2015 Award Winner, Stellenbosch University, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sub – Speciality – Paediatric allergology
“Allergic diseases are common and cause a massive burden of disease at primary level. It is the most common non-communicable disease in children.”
PAST WINNERS
Dr Shrish Budree
MGH Fellowship award winner 2015, University of Cape Town, Department of Paediatrics and child health – Paediatric Gastroenterology
“My goal is to improve child and maternal health in South Africa. Bu furthering my career in Academic Medicine, I’ll help to develop and train future doctors in the field of Paediatric Gastroenterology to the benefit of South Africa and the continent.”
AWARDS BOOK
Download your own copy of the previous awards booklet by selecting the year below.
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2018
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