School of Health Sciences

BIOSKETCH
Professor Verusia Chetty is one of the youngest full professors of Physiotherapy in the country. She is an established National Research Foundation C-rated scientist. She has authored and co-authored more than 80 peer reviewed publications. She has graduated more than 30 master’s students and 7 PHD students. She is currently an elected convener of the National Research Foundation’s Health Sciences rating panel. Her collective research funding exceeds 5 million Rands in just over a decade at UKZN. In 2019, she was the first runner up in the South African Woman in Science Award. This is a prestigious National prize awarded by the South African Department of Science and Innovation. She was one of only two scientists in South Africa to be chosen by the National Research Foundation (NRF) to represent South Africa at an assembly of Global Nobel Laureate nominees in Japan. This consequently culminated in her becoming a fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. She was awarded the Emerging Public Health Practitioner Award by the Health Systems Trust of South Africa and was one of the first celebrated recipients of the National Health Scholars Programme presented in Parliament by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the then Honorable Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize. She is the invited convener on the Young Scientist Programme for the South African Medical Research Council and has directed the event for the last 5 years. In this role she not only coordinates the scientific event but shares with emerging scholars on the tenants of being a successful scientist and academic. Professor Chetty was the junior editor on the South African Journal of Physiotherapy for two years, the only discipline specific journal in the country and remains an editorial board member. Her own research has broader impact on society influencing both policy and practice, most notably the development of a model of care suitable for adults and children with chronic conditions such as HIV. She has worked for government and international agencies by providing technical support and providing expertise for the development of the new National Strategic Plan on HIV in South Africa, as well as the design of the new UNAIDS policy brief on disability and HIV. She is the chair on the interim committee of ADIRA. This is the acronym for Advancing Disability Inclusive Research in Africa. This network was formed to established a space for researchers working in the field of disability in Africa, to increase innovative and high-quality research to improve health, socio-economic wellbeing, and increase inclusion and social participation of people with disabilities. But I think the most impressive aspect of all – is that she has achieved all of this before she turned 40 and whilst balancing being a dedicated wife to her husband and great mom to her three wonderful kids. She is truly a remarkable woman, filled with compassion and is ever willing to share to seasoned and up and coming academics. She has accomplished so much yet remains so humble but continues to inspire. And we are even more proud to claim her as one of us, from our very own UKZN stable. Professor Chetty would you give us the honor and come forward to address us please.

Degrees Held

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy
• Masters in Hand rehabilitation

Experience

• 14 years as a physiotherapist employed in different DOH institutions
• Teaching and research in community based health care and clinical education. Lecturing neurology-Principles of physiotherapy

Teaching Interest​

• Neurology Community

Supervision

•  Undergraduate final year physiotherapy Postgraduate masters students