Wakithi Mabaso

Biography

The first black African to achieve consecutive academic honours cum laude awards at his high-school (Kearsney College), Wakithi graduated from UCT with an MBChB degree cum laude. Publishing the country's largest study on depression and anxiety in medical students at the time, his work grew to influence institutional mental health policy and national media initiatives, earning him nomination for a South African Health Excellence, Rising Star Award. A founding member of the UCT Internal Medicine Society, he facilitated sponsored attendance at Africa's inaugural World Congress of Internal Medicine. His role on the UKZN Junior Doctor Mentorship programme has brought his work full circle. As an aspiring clinician-scientist passionate about mental health Wakithi read for an MSc in Clinical & Therapeutic Neuroscience after completing the MSc in Global Health Science & Epidemiology. He enjoys CrossFit, art and introspection, loves nature and is also learning German.