In the evolving world of healthcare education, few stories capture both global leadership and local impact as powerfully as that of Khomotso Paulina Motiang, a Lecturer in the Department of Radiography at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). From global forums to SMU lecture halls, Motiang is redefining what it means to lead in radiography, using her platform to inspire change, develop young professionals, and advance MRI education in South Africa and beyond.
With a clinical career spanning public and private sectors, international experience, and more than five years in academia, her greatest influence is now felt in academia, where she nurtures future radiographers to lead with both skill and compassion. “We must remain human while striving for excellence,” she reflects, a principle that shapes every dimension of her work.
In 2024, Motiang’s commitment to transformation was recognised when she was awarded the International Society of Magnetic Resonance Radiographers and Technologists (ISMRT) Future Leaders Fellowship, an initiative developed in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This prestigious global fellowship positions her at the forefront of MRI education advancement in underserved regions. For South Africa’s radiography community, it is a milestone: Motiang is not only representing the country on global platforms but bringing global innovation back home.
Through the Fellowship, she is establishing the ISMRT South African Division, creating a national knowledge-sharing hub for MRI safety and best practice. “This Fellowship is not just personal, it’s a resource for the profession and a tool to empower others,” Motiang says.
At SMU, her teaching philosophy is equally progressive. She champions interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP), believing that modern radiographers must operate beyond their specialisation and work as collaborative healthcare leaders. Her supervision of undergraduate research projects in forensic imaging and AI in diagnostics demonstrates her commitment to producing forward-thinking graduates ready for global healthcare environments.
Her leadership extends to national structures: from 2025 to 2029, she will serve as the Gauteng Provincial Representative for the Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA), shaping national policy and professional development. Internationally, she continues to advocate for MRI safety and education through her Fellowship, and as a Fellow of the ISMRT.
Yet, Motiang’s leadership philosophy remains rooted in human connection. Beyond accolades and fellowships, she quietly donates food parcels to students in need and mentors first-generation university entrants. “Support doesn’t always come from policy. Sometimes it comes from people choosing to care.”
Her work embodies SMU’s vision: health sciences education that is both locally relevant and globally competitive. As a reviewer for the African Journal of Health Professions Education, Motiang advocates for African research that reflects the continent’s realities while contributing to global knowledge. From global MRI forums to the students she mentors daily, Motiang is a leader of substance, one who proves that advancing healthcare is not just about technology and systems, but about people, compassion, and vision.
A global voice and a local heart, she is redefining radiography leadership for South Africa and for the world.
By Tumelo Moila
