Mathematician “at Heart” Scores PhD in Medical Sciences
A graduate tested more than 18 000 people for tuberculosis (TB) during her research for a PhD discovering that 82% of the cases detected in the rural KwaZulu-Natal community showed no symptoms or were “sub clinical”, despite having similar bacterial levels and lung damage as symptomatic cases.
The graduate was Dr Yumna Moosa who was awarded a PhD in Medical Sciences.
Genetic analysis in the study further uncovered that 18% of TB strains were drug-resistant, with the majority found in asymptomatic individuals. Shockingly, half of the identified TB transmission clusters consisted solely of asymptomatic carriers, highlighting their critical yet hidden role in the spread of the disease. Additionally, the study emphasised that most transmissions occurred within the community settings rather than within households.
‘In my heart, I’m a mathematician, and when I was younger, I wanted to be a mathematics teacher,’ Moosa recalls. However, she was encouraged to pursue a more “ambitious” career. With both parents and an older brother in the Medical field, she followed in their footsteps and became a doctor. Yet, her fascination with numbers never faded, leading her to embrace the role of a scientist as well.
Currently working as a clinician scientist at the Africa Health Research Institute, Moosa continues her commitment to leveraging science for public health impact. In the short-term, she aims to support evidence-based policy decisions that enhance healthcare and environmental relationships, while looking further ahead, she dreams of becoming a teacher, though she has yet to decide what subject or audience she would teach.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Moosa enjoys Afro-Latin dancing and is passionate about wholesome, vegetarian cuisine that is seasonal and exotic. She also embraces joy and healing through her work as a care clown, believing in the power of laughter and positivity in healthcare settings. Her guiding principle, “From the river to the sea” reflects her broad vision for interconnectedness and well-being.
Under the guidance of her supervisors, Dr Emily Wong and Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Moosa has made significant contributions to understanding TB transmission.
Words: Maryann Francis
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini
