Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), formerly known as the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA), has a proud legacy of promoting academic excellence, integrity and community service in the health sciences. Grounded in the values of compassion, accountability and perseverance, SMU nurtures future leaders who are committed to transforming healthcare. It was within this environment of support and purpose that Dr Odette Heyneke recently reached a major milestone — the completion of her PhD, a journey defined by resilience, personal sacrifice and unwavering faith.
Heyneke’s passion for academia was sparked at an early age. At just 14, during a visit to MEDUNSA for a science fair project, she was inspired by the campus atmosphere and by her sister, Professor Kahler-Venter, who worked in the Department of Pharmacology. “I remember walking through the corridors and saying to myself, ‘One day, I’m going to be a lecturer here,’” she recalls. That moment planted a dream that would guide her for years to come.
After completing secondary school, Heyneke went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with Biochemistry and Microbiology, followed by Honours and a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from North-West University (NWU). These academic accomplishments laid a strong foundation for her career, which began in 2003 when she joined MEDUNSA as a Natural Scientist in Pharmacology. By 2006, she had advanced to the role of Senior Medical Natural Scientist in Physiology, demonstrating both her expertise and commitment to academic excellence.
Soon afterwards, life’s responsibilities called her away from her professional journey as she took time out to raise her family. From 2008 to 2014, she dedicated herself to full-time motherhood. “For six years, my world revolved around nappies, teething, and toddler chaos,” she shares. Although away from the academic world, this period played a pivotal role in building her resilience and inner strength. Returning to academia in 2014 as a lecturer in Physiology proved to be a daunting transition. “I felt like I knew absolutely nothing — I had to relearn everything I thought I’d never use again,” she admits. Yet her ability to adapt and persevere reflected SMU’s ethos of resilience and lifelong learning.
Determined to make a deeper impact, Heyneke decided to embark on a PhD. After exploring several potential research areas, she found her true focus when Professor Harold Majane introduced the Heart Failure study. “Something about it just clicked,” she explains. Her research, centred on the role of aortic haemodynamic parameters on left ventricular function in adult Black South African patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), was both innovative and socially relevant.
Balancing a demanding academic role, parenting teenagers, and managing the pressures of research was no easy feat. “I experienced stress, burnout, and moments where I questioned my sanity,” she confesses. In 2022, a life-threatening illness nearly forced her to abandon her studies. Lying in a hospital bed, she made a promise to herself: she would finish what she had started. “My faith carried me. My children gave me strength. Something inside me — maybe stubbornness, maybe purpose — refused to let me quit,” she reflects.
Heyneke’s PhD represents far more than academic achievement — it stands as a powerful symbol of survival, renewal and determination. “It’s a symbol of unfinished dreams reignited, and proof that it’s never too late to rise again,” she says. Her story is a beacon of hope for women who step away from their careers for family, showing that setbacks can indeed become comebacks.
As a proud SMU graduate, Heyneke embodies the university’s mission to cultivate leaders who serve with excellence and integrity. Her journey mirrors the values that SMU upholds, and powerfully demonstrates the transformative potential of perseverance, faith and passion. Her success is a testament to what can be accomplished when one remains steadfast in the face of adversity — a message that extends far beyond the halls of academia. Heyneke’s story is not only her own; it is a shared triumph for all who believe in the power of education to change lives.
By Dimakatso Modise
