Prof. Thifhelimbilu Irene Munzhelele is the first black female Maxillofacial and Oral Surgeon (MFOS) in South Africa. Born at Ha-Magidi, a rural village in Venda, South Africa, she is the first generation in her family to attain university education. She is also the first and only black person to qualify as a MFOS with dual qualifications, (BChD and MBChB), both Dental and Medical degrees. Her academic qualifications include BChD (Medunsa), DipOdont in Oral Surgery (UP), MBChB (UP), MChD-Med MFOS (UP), FCMFOS (CMSA), Post graduate Teachers Diploma in Health Sciences Education (WITS) and a Certificate in Assessment (Rhodes University). In August 2024, she received a Women in Leadership certificate from the Nelson Mandela University (NMU).
Since qualifying, she has worked as a specialist MFOS for the South African Defence Force, and, she is currently the first black female HOD in her area of specialty, based at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU).
MFOS as a specialty in dentistry started in South Africa in the 1950’s. It is a male dominated discipline across all racial groups with the very first woman MFOS only qualifying in 1998. A huge discrepancy indeed!
“I am very passionate about intentionally empowering other women. Since I took over as HOD, I have produced a couple of female MFOS, and, there are still more women in the programme”, she said.
