Simphiwe Simelane
@simphiwesimelane
Clinical researcher and physician specializing in child & adolescent mental health implementation.
What I'm looking for
I am a physician-researcher focused on strengthening child and adolescent mental health services through implementation science and participatory research. I completed an MBChB with first class honours and a PhD in Psychiatry with a focus on health systems and implementation.
My work spans clinical roles, trial leadership, and health systems engagement: I have served as a research medical officer in TB trials, a sessional medical officer supporting PACK Child guideline development, and a scientific officer leading protocol design for UNITE4TB trials.
I co-founded a healthcare technology start-up and act as Chief Medical Officer, providing clinical design input for an AI-powered clinical history-taking tool and aligning product workflows with frontline clinical needs. I also led venture design work for digital clinical guidelines and contributed to grant design and regulatory coordination.
I am committed to collaborative, stakeholder-driven research and pragmatic solutions that translate evidence into policy and practice, with a track record of publications, conference presentations, and successful grant and regulatory contributions.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Chief Medical Officer
Script Healthcare Technologies
Mar 2025 - Present (7 months)
Co-founded and steer business and clinical strategy for an AI-powered clinical history-taking tool, designing intuitive patient workflows and aligning the platform with real-world clinician needs.
Scientific Officer
TASK Applied Sciences
Feb 2025 - Present (8 months)
Serve as sponsor representative on UNITE4TB trials, lead protocol design and cross-functional trial teams, and oversee regulatory compliance, budgets, and dissemination for phase 2A/B clinical trials.
Research Officer
Knowledge Translation Unit
Feb 2024 - Jan 2025 (11 months)
Co-designed research proposals and protocols with national and international stakeholders, supported grant submissions (e.g., NIHR polypill study), coordinated regulatory applications, and led development of the PACK App.
Sessional Medical Officer
Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness
Aug 2022 - Jul 2023 (11 months)
Developed clinical competency frameworks, contributed child and adolescent mental health content to PACK Child guideline, and engaged clinicians and policymakers to inform health system strengthening.
Locum Medical Officer
Karl Bremer Hospital
Jul 2020 - Aug 2021 (1 year 1 month)
Managed paediatric and neonatal emergencies and supervised junior medical staff to maintain clinical care standards during locum appointments.
Research Medical Officer
Desmond Tutu TB Centre
Apr 2020 - Dec 2020 (8 months)
Conducted clinical assessments and maintained participant records and compliance for tuberculosis clinical trials during collaborative research projects.
Community Service Medical Officer
Mpumalanga Department of Health
May 2019 - Apr 2020 (11 months)
Delivered comprehensive care across paediatrics, internal medicine, and psychiatry, and initiated antenatal education and post-discharge mental health follow-up clinics at Tonga District Hospital.
Intern Medical Officer
Karl Bremer Hospital
Jan 2017 - Apr 2019 (2 years 3 months)
Completed rotations across core clinical departments, collaborating in multidisciplinary teams to provide acute and routine inpatient care during internship.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
University of Cape Town
Doctor of Philosophy, Psychiatry
2021 - 2025
PhD in Psychiatry focused on health systems strengthening, implementation science, participatory research, and child and adolescent mental health; thesis passed with confer date September 2025.
University of Cape Town
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, Medicine
2010 - 2016
Grade: First Class Honours
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery awarded with first class honours, including distinction in basic and clinical sciences.
University of Cape Town
Bachelor of Science in Medical Science (Honours), Immunology
2013 - 2013
Grade: First Class
Honours in Immunology (Bachelor of Science in Medical Science) awarded with first class standing; focused on macrophage genes targeted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Job categories
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