Professor Wayne Derman graduated MBChB from the University of Pretoria in 1986, and obtained his BSc (Med)(Hons) in sport science and his PhD in sports medicine in 1988 and 1993 respectively. In 1994 he was awarded the Fellowship of the American College of Sports Medicine and was also awarded the Val Schreire Award for the Outstanding Investigator in the Cardiovascular Field in Southern Africa. In 1993 and 1997, he underwent training as advanced team physician in San Diego, California and Orlando, Florida, USA.

He is presently Associate Professor of Sport Science and Sports Medicine at the UCT Sport Science Institute of South Africa and is Medical Co-Director of the Chronic Disease Rehabilitation Programme at the Institute. He is a senior partner of Derman & Schwellnus Inc, the Sports Medicine Practice at the Sport Science Institute of South Africa. This practice provides specialist sports medical consulting services to the South African rugby, soccer, cricket, Commonwealth and Olympic teams. He presently represents South Africa at the World Health Organization on the Task Group Committee for Secondary Prevention of Heart Disease.

He was recently the Chief Medical Officer of NOCSA, the National Olympic Committee of South Africa for the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games. In December to May 2002, he served as Flight Surgeon to Cosmonaught Mark Shuttleworth during the “First African in Space” mission in Russia. In December 2004, Professor Derman was named recipient of the Department of Health and Health Professionals Council award for Excellence in Health Care in South Africa.

Figure 1

 Wayne Derman.