Advancing Cardiovascular Care: NWU Researcher Steps into Key SA Heart® Role
- Karen Scheepers
- Aug 28
- 4 min read
The North-West University (NWU) continues to make its mark on South Africa’s healthcare landscape through the expertise of its Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART). This influential research group, known for advancing knowledge on cardiovascular health in African populations, has once again extended its reach. One of its leading researchers, Professor Ruan Kruger, has stepped into a pivotal leadership role within SA Heart®, the professional organisation representing cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons in South Africa.
Strengthening Professional Leadership
Effective from 1 August 2025, the six-month part-time appointment places Kruger in a position that connects SA Heart®’s board with its management team. The interim role is designed to test whether the association would benefit from having an executive leader dedicated to operational efficiency and strategic alignment.
SA Heart® is widely respected for its research, advocacy, and publication of the SA Heart® Journal. By taking on a leadership position, an NWU researcher brings academic expertise into the heart of professional medical governance, ensuring that the organisation’s structures remain dynamic and responsive to the country’s evolving healthcare needs.
The Role of SA Heart®
As the recognised professional body for cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, SA Heart® plays a critical role in strengthening South Africa’s response to cardiovascular disease. The association promotes scientific excellence, supports professional development, and facilitates collaboration across disciplines.
Kruger’s appointment highlights the value of bridging academic research with professional practice. It creates opportunities for knowledge transfer between HART’s extensive research into hypertension and the broader clinical community represented by SA Heart®. This integration strengthens the ability of healthcare professionals to address one of the leading causes of death in South Africa.
Academic Contribution and Research Foundations
The Hypertension in Africa Research Team has long been a source of evidence-driven insight into cardiovascular health. Its work has helped shape understanding of hypertension’s unique drivers within African populations, including socio-economic conditions, cultural factors, and genetic predispositions.
By drawing on this expertise, NWU ensures that its researchers contribute not only to academic debates but also to practical healthcare solutions. Kruger’s leadership role within SA Heart® represents a natural extension of this mission, allowing insights from research to inform decision-making processes that directly affect patient care.
Benefits for the University
For NWU, the appointment strengthens its ties with professional healthcare networks at both national and international levels. SA Heart® is supported by global institutions such as the European Society of Cardiology, and the partnership enhances the university’s profile within these forums.
The connection also aligns with NWU’s growing Desmond Tutu School of Medicine, which seeks to expand training and research opportunities in health sciences. Through this link, students and staff at the university gain increased access to global expertise, professional networks, and collaborative opportunities that advance both education and practice.
A Fresh Perspective in Leadership
Although SA Heart® primarily represents clinicians, the appointment of a researcher into a leadership role reflects a shift toward greater inclusivity. Cardiovascular health requires contributions from multiple disciplines, and the involvement of a scientist underscores the organisation’s recognition of this reality.
The presence of a non-clinical professional in such a key role broadens the organisation’s vision. It enables a diversity of insights that are essential for developing strategies capable of addressing South Africa’s growing burden of cardiovascular disease. This approach ensures that professional governance is not only clinically sound but also informed by cutting-edge research and innovation.
Relevance to South Africa’s Healthcare Needs
South Africa continues to face rising rates of non-communicable diseases, with cardiovascular illness a major contributor to national morbidity and mortality. Tackling this challenge requires strong collaboration between academic researchers and professional practitioners.
Kruger’s role within SA Heart® reflects an attempt to bring these two worlds closer together. It demonstrates how research from NWU can inform professional structures, influence healthcare policy, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. It also highlights the importance of partnerships that transcend institutional boundaries in order to address shared national challenges.
Looking Ahead
The six-month interim appointment serves as both a trial and an opportunity. SA Heart® will evaluate the effectiveness of dedicated executive leadership during this period before considering a permanent role. For NWU, the appointment reinforces its commitment to contributing to healthcare leadership beyond the classroom and laboratory.
The collaboration highlights how academic institutions and professional organisations can complement one another, with universities supplying the research foundation and associations providing the professional frameworks for implementation.
Final Note
The appointment of an NWU researcher to a leadership role within SA Heart® illustrates the growing impact of the university’s contributions to national and international healthcare. It signals the value of collaboration between academic research and professional practice in addressing cardiovascular disease.
As the interim leadership period unfolds, the partnership between HART, NWU, and SA Heart® serves as a model for how inclusive governance and scientific excellence can come together to strengthen healthcare systems. In this way, NWU not only advances research but also actively shapes the professional structures that determine the future of cardiovascular care in South Africa.
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