Biography:André van der Merwe
André van der Merwe | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1967/1968 (age 56–57)[1] |
| Nationality | South Africa n |
| Alma mater | Royal College of Surgeons of England |
| Occupation | Urologist, surgeon |
| Known for | Performing the world's first successful penis transplant |
André van der Merwe is a South African urologist. He is currently head of urology at the University of Stellenbosch and an associate professor at Tygerberg Hospital.[2][3] He is best known for conducting the world's first successful penis transplant in 2014.[3][4][5] He also performed the first laparoscopic kidney removal in South Africa.[6][7]
Life
Van der Merwe grew up in the town of Sutherland in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. His childhood dream was to become an astronomer. He is a fan of singer Barbra Streisand.[1]
Qualifications
As of 2014, Van der Merwe held the following qualifications: Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) of England, MRCS of Edinburgh, Fellowship of the College of Urologists of South Africa, a Master of Medicine in Urology, and a Master of Clinical Epidemiology.[2]
Career
Apart from his positions at the University of Stellenbosch and the Tygerberg Hospital, Van der Merwe is a National Deputy Delegate for South Africa with the Société Internationale d'Urologie.[8]
As a urologist, Van der Merwe regularly performs kidney transplants.[5] In 2008, he performed the first laparoscopic removal of kidney in South Africa. The kidney was removed from a living donor to be donated to her sister. The duration of the surgery was four hours in total, which is longer than a traditional kidney removal. Van der Merwe said that the longer surgery time was offset by the much quicker patient recovery time.[6] Van der Merwe said that the new method of organ removal could attract up to 40% more donors than there were at the time.[7]
Penis transplant
Accolades
In 2008, Van der Merwe was awarded the Karl Storz Golden Cystoscope for the most outstanding young urologist in South Africa.[9][10]
In 2012, at the congress of the South African Urological Association, he received the Sanofi-Aventis award for urological excellence and outstanding service in furthering the practice of Urology in South Africa.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Collins, Farren (20 March 2015). "'Dr Dick' rises to the occasion". http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2015/03/20/dr-dick-rises-to-the-occasion.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "DR. ANDRE VAN DER MERWE". 2014. http://www.esdconference.com/van-der-merwe.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Penis transplant: man can now be a dad". Health-e News. 14 March 2015. http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/penis-transplant-man-can-now-be-a-dad-1.1831916#.VR5_Tqg0WSo.
- ↑ Netto, Joseph (14 March 2015). "Doctors claim first successful penis transplant". http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/13/health/penis-transplant-south-africa/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gallagher, James (13 March 2015). "South Africans perform first 'successful' penis transplant". https://www.bbc.com/news/health-31876219.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Caelers, Di (24 April 2008). "Keyhole kidney op a first for SA". http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/keyhole-kidney-op-a-first-for-sa-1.397832.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "SA organ breakthrough". Die Burger. 18 August 2008. http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/sundaysun/2008/08/18/SS/35/HEALTHDONOR.html.
- ↑ "National Delegates". http://www.siu-urology.org/society/national-delegates.
- ↑ "UROLOGY first amongst its peers". October 2008. http://academic.sun.ac.za/health/adrenalien/adrenaliensept08/Urology.html.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Urology staff members excel at the South African Urological Association (SAUA) Congress". 6 December 2012. http://blogs.sun.ac.za/news/2012/12/06/urology-staff-members-excel-at-the-south-african-urological-association-saua-congress/.
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