Gita Ramjee (April 15th, 2020)
This Week’s WiSE Wednesday: Gita Ramjee
We would like to recognize a female scientist that passed away recently. The global science community is sad to hear of Dr. Gita Ramjee’s passing. Her passing was due to health complications associated with COVID-19. Dr. Ramjee has been an instrumental scientist and has had a tremendous impact in the field of HIV and AIDS research. Her work focused on women in disadvantaged communities in Africa and developing countries. She helped tremendously expand HIV preventative measures and oversaw clinical trials. At the time of her death, she was the Chief Scientific Officer at Aurum Institute in Johannesburg. Her institute was focused on HIV and Tuberculosis research.
Dr. Ramjee was born in April of 1956 and grew up in Uganda. Her and her family would have to move to India, where Dr. Ramjee would continue her early education. She then moved to the United Kingdom, where she got her degree in Chemistry and Physiology. After that, she moved with her husband to South Africa, where she went to work at the Medical School at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, in the Pediatrics department. She received her Master’s at that University, and subsequently, her PhD in Pediatrics in 1994. She pursued her advanced degrees while also raising two sons.
Dr. Ramjee’s thesis topic was on kidney diseases in children. After she graduated with her PhD, she began to work with women in communities who had HIV. Her work helped to expand the HIV Prevention Unit in South Africa. In 2018, Dr. Ramjee was awarded the Outstanding Female Scientist Award from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership. She has also held honorary positions, was a member on several committees, and has published over 150 scientific articles.
Please learn more about her outstanding life and research:
Information from:
https://www.the-scientist.com/…/hiv-researcher-gita-ramjee-…
https://www.nytimes.com/…/obituaries/gita-ramjee-dead-coron…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gita_Ramjee
Photo Credit: Aurum Institute