{"id":534,"date":"2023-11-07T07:21:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-07T07:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmjopensem\/?p=534"},"modified":"2023-10-31T07:22:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-31T07:22:08","slug":"meet-greet-the-team-wanda-van-niekerk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bmjopensem\/2023\/11\/07\/meet-greet-the-team-wanda-van-niekerk\/","title":{"rendered":"MEET & GREET THE TEAM … WANDA VAN NIEKERK"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let us introduce you to Wanda van Niekerk. One of our recently appointed student board members.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At BOSEM, our editorial team consists of a unique and diverse group of growing and established academics and clinicians willing to bring new voices and vigour to the broad Sports & Exercise Medicine field. Yet, we felt incomplete without the voices and views of the next generation of leaders in our field. Hence, we expanded our editorial team with a dedicated student panel – a group of peers and colleagues currently at the undergraduate, BSc, MSc or PhD level and keen to learn more about academic publishing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
<\/h5>\n
Tell us about yourself (where do you work, what is your background, something personal, etc.)<\/strong>?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

I am a physio, but not practising anymore. These days I am a learning architect, creating online courses for Physiopedia and Plus, a PhD candidate at HPALS, UCT and a mom of three teenagers. I have always worked in sports and with young athletes and loved being in a team environment. My team looks a bit different now, with everyone at Plus being from all around the world, but it is still great. Although I am not working clinically anymore, I love my profession and am always keen on learning and staying up-to-date with research and clinical practice.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is your main area of research \/ clinical expertise?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

I am researching lumbar bone stress injuries in young athletes and more specifically in young fast bowlers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What is your motivation to be a member of the BOSEM team?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Being on this PhD journey (which is taking a while\u2026) has made me realise that I need to surround myself a bit more with colleagues and experts who have been through this \/ or are going through this, who can advise, motivate and who I can learn from. With being involved with Physiopedia and creating open online content for rehabilitation professionals, I have seen the huge difference we make in providing reliable and freely available resources to clinicians around the globe, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Being part of the BOSEM team allows me to be part of a diverse network of academics and clinicians from whom I can learn, but also learn. It allows me the opportunity to be part of a global community of SEM researchers and clinicians that plays an impactful role in the dissemination of quality and clinically meaningful publications to everyone.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What<\/strong> i<\/strong>s a work-related accomplishment that you\u2019re really proud of?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

I had a great experience as part of the sports medicine team of a local professional cricket side (a while back, though) and more recently I was part of creating an online introductory programme consisting of 16 short online courses relating to sports and exercise physiotherapy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

I have an inspiring mentor and supervisor, Prof Janine Gray, whom I learn heaps from, especially how to find a balance between academics, work and family (if there is such a thing\u2026). There are a bunch of inspiring colleagues from all around the world in my global work team whom I learn from daily. Their outlook on life and the rehabilitation profession and how each of us can make a difference is inspiring.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favourite way to unwind after a busy day?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Give me a good book to read, and I am happy!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let us introduce you to Wanda van Niekerk. One of our recently appointed student board members. […]<\/p>\n

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