Hanneke Dippenaar-Brits, MD

Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of the Free State, BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa

Dr. Hanneke Brits is a consultant in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein South Africa. She is involved in the training of undergraduate and post graduate medical students as well as allied health students. This training involves both theory and practice regarding clinical conditions, teamwork, interdisciplinary training and palliative care principles. Her main interests are pediatrics and obstetrics. She leads the pediatric ward at National District Hospital where she renders clinical care to children and integrated palliative care in hospital care. She is the volunteer medical director of the Sunflower Children’s Hospice and does clinical care and training for the in-patient division: home care and day care.

Download and Read Hanneke’s Personal Story (443 KB)

Other Appointments

Co-Chair ICPCN in Africa
Board member International ICPCN
Director of St Nicholas Bana Pele Network
Member of the National EDL committee
Trainer on ARV’s for Department of Health
Treasurer: South African Academy of Family Practice

Key Accomplishments

Founding partner of St. Nicholas Bana Pele Network.
Introduced hospital based palliative care in National District Hospital.
Started Inter-professional training for professionals at National District Hospital and accredited it as a CPD activity.

Education / Honors

Masters in Health Professions Education, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 2012
Leader, International Palliative Care Leadership Development Initiative, San Diego, CA, USA, 2010-2011
FCFP, College of Medicine of South Africa, 2009
Advanced Health Management, University of Yale, 2008
First line Management, UNISA, 2006
M Fam Med, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 1995
MB Ch B, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, 1990

Key Publications

Brits H, Marston J. (2011) Palliative care for children: pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Africa Health, 33(5); 28-30
Brits H, Harding R, Penfold S. (2009) Paediatric antiretroviral therapy outcomes under HIV hospice care in South Africa. Int. J Palliat Nurs, 15(3); 142-5
Steenkamp l, Dannhauser A, Walsh D, Joubert G, Veldman FJ, van der Walt E, Dippenaar H. (2009) Nutritional, immune, micronutrient and health status if HIV-infected children in care centres in Mangaung. S Afr J Clin Nutr, 22(3): 131-136
Brits H, Joubert G. (2009) An investigation into the dramatic increase in deaths from gastro-enteritis during summer of 2007/2008 at National District Hospital, Bloemfontein Free State. SA Fam Pract, 51 (5) 418-422
Dippenaar H, Grobler L, Joubert G. (2008) Multidisciplinary training of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health Science: Hypertension as a case study. SA Fam Pract, 50 (4); 70-72
Dippenaar H, Steinberg WJ. (2008) Evaluation of clinical medicine in the final post graduate exams in Family Medicine. SA Fam Pract, 50 (1): 16-16c
Rodriques AN, Nel M, Dippenaar H, Prinsloo EAM. (2007) Good short-term outcomes of kangaroo mother care in infants with a low birth weight in a rural South African hospital. SA Fam Pract, 49 (5): 15-15c
Van der Sande M, Dippenaar H, Rutten GE. (2007) The relationship between patient education and glycaemic control in a South African township. Primary Diabetes Care, 1: 87-91
Dippenaar H, Joubert G, Brussow M. (2006) Guidelines for Kangaroo Care in district hospitals and primary healthcare maternity sections in the Free State. SA Fam Pract, 48 (9): 16-16c
Dippenaar H, Joubert G, Nel, R, Bantobetse ML, Opawole AA, Roshen KS. (2005) Homemade sugar-salt solution for oral rehydration: Knowledge of mothers and caregivers. SA Fam Pract, 47 (2) 47-49
Dippenaar H, Joubert G, v Rooyen C. (2005) How cheap is primary health care? Cost per script at the Heidedal Community Health Center and National District Hospital in Bloemfontein. SA Fam Pract, 47 (7): 37-40
Dippenaar H. (2005) Is Quality Control useful? An audit on the saving measures regarding prescriptions at National District Hospital in Bloemfontein. SA Fam Pract, 47 (9): 60-62
Dippenaar H, Joubert G. (2002) The treatment of COAD: Is the EDL sufficient? SA Fam Pract, 26 (1): 7-10

Key Presentations

ARV’s in children with HIV – ICPCN, Cape Town, 2009
Inter-professional Teamwork: A Case study to illustrate the dynamics: WONCA Africa, 2010
Multiple losses in children with HIV – APCA conference Windhoek, Namibia, 2010
ARV’s in Children – 3 year follow-up. AIDS Impact Santa, Fe, 2011