Professor Zithulele Tshbalala joins NWU Desmond Tutu School of Medicine as its first Associate Professor in Anatomy

Prof. Zithulele Tshabalala is an accomplished Anatomist with extensive expertise in the anatomical sciences, health professions education, and academic leadership.

Originally from Sasolburg in the Free State, Prof. Tshabalala obtained his foundational qualifications at the University of Pretoria, where he ultimately earned a PhD in Anatomy. To further refine his pedagogical expertise, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Professions Education at the University of Cape Town.

Throughout his career, Prof. Tshabalala has held a diverse range of academic, technical, and leadership positions. He developed his professional foundation in teaching, research, and student mentorship at the University of Pretoria, serving there from 2016 until mid-2020.

In August 2020, Prof. Tshabalala joined Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha as a Senior Lecturer, serving as a key member of the foundational team tasked with establishing the 10th Medical School in the country, which welcomed its first cohort of medical students in 2021. In this capacity, he played a central role in curriculum development, academic leadership and governance during and beyond the critical developmental stages of the School. He further served as the Acting Head of the Department of Human Biology and Integrated Pathology in 2021 and was subsequently appointed as the inaugural Head of Department in 2024, a position he held until March 2026.

His tenure at Nelson Mandela University was marked by significant contributions to the MBChB academic programme and the strengthening of institutional governance. Prof. Tshabalala’s influence extended to various institutional structures, including the Senate, Council, and the Institutional Forum, where he actively engaged in shaping policy, academic governance and institutional transformation. His professional achievements received national acclaim in 2023 when he was named one of the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans.

Beyond his institutional commitments, Prof. Tshabalala remains deeply engaged in the broader scholarly community. He serves as a reviewer for leading academic journals, participates in national research initiatives, and contributes to the advancement of the field as a Council Member of the Anatomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA).

Prof. Tshabalala now brings this extensive experience to the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine as its first permanently appointed academic. He will play a pivotal role in the team establishing the MBChB curriculum and will further oversee the development of a state-of-the-art anatomy laboratory designed for the education of undergraduate and postgraduate medical students and health professionals.

His arrival on 01 April 2026 coincides with the appointment of the School’s founding Chief Director, Prof. Binu Luke. These landmark appointments signal a critical milestone in the realisation of the 11th Medical School in the country, which is scheduled to welcome its first cohort of medical students in 2028.

Welcome to the team Prof Zithulele Tshbalala!