Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson
Elizabeth City,NC
Summary
Dr Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson MB ChB, MSc Clinical Epidemiology, Cert Trav Med, PCC is a medical doctor, clinical epidemiologist, and leadership coach with more than 15 years of experience working across public, private, and development health systems in South and East Africa.
Her work spans communicable and non communicable diseases with a focus on health systems strengthening, clinical research, and improving access to care in low and middle income countries. She has provided technical, strategic, and operational leadership for large regional health initiatives and has collaborated with major global health partners including USAID, CDC, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Diabetes Foundation, the Global Fund, universities, and private sector organizations.
Dr Makhunga-Stevenson has served as an investigator in multiple clinical trials and research studies including COVID 19, HIV, and RSV vaccine trials through collaborations with Johnson and Johnson, GSK, Pfizer, and international research networks such as HVTN and CoVPN.
In the pharmaceutical sector she has held Medical Affairs leadership roles across several therapeutic areas including cardiovascular disease, thrombosis, epilepsy, oncology, diabetes, and sleep disorders. She most recently served as Regional Medical Lead for English speaking Africa and Asia, supporting initiatives aimed at improving access to affordable medicines in low and middle income countries and strengthening health systems to advance health equity.
Across her career she has built multi sector partnerships with governments, professional societies, patient advocacy groups, NGOs, and key opinion leaders in countries including Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique.
She is also an ICF Professional Certified Coach PCC and founder of Ubuntu Doctor Coaching, where she works with physicians and healthcare leaders to strengthen leadership capacity, restore professional identity, and advance influence without burnout. Her work integrates coaching science, systems thinking, and the Ubuntu leadership philosophy to help physician leaders lead with humanity, resilience, and strategic impact.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Physician Coach
MD Can Help
United States ( Remote)
11.2024 - Current
- Implemented coaching programs, increasing overall effectiveness of coaching sessions.
- Coached more than 50 clients
Founder and Physician Coach
Ubuntu Doctor Coaching
Elizabeth City, NC, United States
01.2024 - Current
- Implemented individualized coaching to enhance physician performance and skills.
- Collaborated with other coaches to share best practices, techniques, and insights for overall program improvement.
- Analyzed client feedback to refine coaching strategies and improve overall program effectiveness.
- Developed comprehensive coaching programs addressing diverse client needs.
Independent public health consultant
05.2017 - Current
- Anova Health Institute. Provision of technical and clinical services for JabSmart (Opioid Substitution Therapy) project in Johannesburg Inner City. (September 2018- to March 2021)
- Provided clinical and technical support for the Harm Reduction program for People Who Inject Drugs
- South African Medical Research Council. Medical Reviewer. ( March 2019- June 2020)
- Foundation for Professional Development. Development of Short course in Clinical Mission Readiness package for Department of Defence (May 2018 – September 2018)
- Foundation for Professional Development. Focus Group Workshop on Clinical Management of HIV/AIDS for Healthcare Practitioners in the Military (March 2018)
- Save the Children/ IOM – Development of Train the Trainer Packages for Health and non-Health Services Providers in the SADC region (February- April 2018)]
- Foundation for Professional Development. Update of Short course in Clinical Management of HIV AIDS for Health Care Providers (July – August 2017)
- Population Services International. Provision of Technical Assistance to Regional HIV programs- (July – Dec 2017)
Regional Medical Lead (Global Health Unit)
Sanofi
South Africa
11.2022 - 12.2023
- Therapeutic areas: Oncology, Cardiovascular , Thrombosis , Diabetes
- Acted as scientific partner to external experts by conducting scientific exchanges to enhance the understanding of scientific and medical value of GHU initiatives and products
- Initiated a multi-country webinar series in integration of Non-communicable diseases into HIV programs
- Developed a symposium strategy for increasing share of voice at SA-AIDS conference 2023 in South Africa
- Developed stakeholder engagement plans to gather medical insights that contribute to the enhancement of key medical messages and future research
- Acted as strategic partner to drive collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders e.g. operations , regulatory and access managers and external stakeholders eg Ministry of Health
- Anticipated unmet medical educational needs of stakeholders to advance understanding of disease by leveraging internal resources to strengthen the capacity of medical and scientific associations
Medical Advisor (Established Products)
Sanofi
South Africa
11.2021 - 10.2022
- Therapeutic areas: Oncology, Cardiovascular , Neurology (Epilepsy and Hypnotics) , Thrombosis
- Develop and foster excellent relationships with KOLs/ Key External Experts, KEE, through co-participation in forums, attendance at congress, and other meetings by proactively developing and fostering these relationships in all contacts and settings
- Support pharmacovigilance of assigned products as needed, including the review and analysis of safety data from clinical trials, the post-marketing setting, and the scientific literature
- Review and approve promotional and non-promotional material in Veeva Vault PromoMats in accordance to legal and company guidelines, ensuring all compliance and quality standards are met
- Manage access programs for unregistered medicine, supplying necessary health authority documentation, ensuring appropriate candidate selection according to program eligibility criteria, and providing appropriate site training on the unregistered medicine
- Manage investigator sponsored studies
Medical Officer / Sub-Investigator
Setshaba Research Centre
South Africa
04.2021 - 10.2021
- Provision of comprehensive medical care to participants on various studies related to the prevention of infectious diseases, including HIV, RSV and COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials in humans
- Conducts objective clinical research that generates independent, high quality, and reproducible results. Responsible for the management and integrity of the design, conduct, and reporting of the research project and for managing, monitoring, and ensuring the integrity of research
General Practitioner
05.2017 - 03.2021
- NHC Centurion ( December 2017-April 2021 )- Provision of medical services
- Aurora Medical Aesthetics Centre (August 2017- March 2020)
Project Director - various projects
Population Services International
South Africa
05.2016 - 04.2017
- Expanding and Improving Pharmaceutical Social Marketing in Southern Africa Project
- Shared medical insights with internal teams, as part of a cross-functional matrix
- Participated in private sector engagement and market development approaches to design, develop and implement affordable pharmaceutical products using the organisation’s Market Development Approach, processes and prototypes for Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Participated in the process to evaluate the potential medical benefit or value of new pharmaceutical technologies and interventions
- Private Sector Provision of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Project
- Led the development of project-wide and country specific strategy and plan for PrEP rollout in South Africa and Zimbabwe
- Provided leadership of the external collaboration and engagement plan while being accountable for all plan outcomes and budget
- Developed project plan respecting the global strategy but outlining the specifics for each country e.g. different standard of care
- Act as representative in building partnerships within the medical communities and scientific societies
- Analysed the local environment to identify and prioritise key opinion leaders (KOLs) and referral patterns as well as gaps in infrastructure for patient care and developed strategies to address the unmet medical need in patient diagnosis and care provision
- Participated in national working groups as a Key Opinion Leader
Country Director
FHI 360
Pretoria, South Africa
03.2015 - 04.2016
- Acting Country Director (March 2014- February 2015 )
- Project Director- Disseminating Avahan Lessons in South Africa - Key Populations (August 2013- September 2015)
- Project Manager – Communities Forward: Community Based Counselling and Testing (June 2014 to April 2016)
- Acting Project Director- Prevention Technologies Agreement (March 2014-August 2014)
Project Director and Senior Evaluations Methods Expert
University Research Co. LLC (URC)
Pretoria, South Africa
01.2008 - 07.2013
- Project Director, Integration of Tuberculosis and Diabetes Service Project
- Led the project’s scientific and clinical activities, including publications, evidence, relationships with internal and external stakeholders and overall implementation strategy
- Provided technical contributions to the business development team to support business development activities
- Training and Mentoring Intervention leader, Evaluation of Professional and Community Health Worker Training and Mentoring Interventions to Improve TB Patients’ Uptake of HIV Counselling and Testing In The Free State Province, South Africa
- Co-Investigator- Project STATUS
- Ensured all required study documentation is collected and monitoring of study progress is performed to successful completion according to study timelines, milestones and regulatory requirements
- Ensured timely ordering, shipping and tracking of study materials and other commodities as needed
- Developed publications from the data generated and presentation of data logistics
- Served as co-investigator for externally-sponsored multi-country research project including supporting the communication related to the safety issues with the principal investigators and regulatory bodies
- Project Director, CDC- HIV Counselling and Testing Project
- Provided technical and administrative leadership on project management processes and procedures to the team on various projects
- Ensured effective client management processes are followed including donor and government stakeholder relations and served as the primary liaison with the funder
Project Manager (HIV treatment)
Foundation for Professional Development
South Africa
09.2007 - 12.2007
- Overseeing the planning and organization of supported HIV treatment clinics in Gauteng and North-West provinces in a USAID funded project
Senior Clinical Executive
Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
South Africa
01.2005 - 01.2006
Education
MSc (Clinical Epidemiology) - Clinical Epidemiology
University of Pretoria
South Africa MB ChB - undefined
University of Natal
Durban01.1999
Skills
- Effective communication
- Family medicine
- Group leadership
- Training and facilitation
- Resource mobilization
- Partnership building
- Grant management
- People management
- Strategies and goals
- Strategic planning
- Legal and regulatory compliance
- Pharmacology expertise
Affiliations
- Health Professions Council of South Africa MP 0511994
- South African Medical Association
Certification
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation (ICF) - February 2026
Other Relevant Experience
- Registrar- Public Health Medicine
- Resident Medical Officer- United Kingdom
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
Associate Physician Coach
MD Can Help
11.2024 - Current
Founder and Physician Coach
Ubuntu Doctor Coaching
01.2024 - Current
Regional Medical Lead (Global Health Unit)
Sanofi
11.2022 - 12.2023
Medical Advisor (Established Products)
Sanofi
11.2021 - 10.2022
Medical Officer / Sub-Investigator
Setshaba Research Centre
04.2021 - 10.2021
Independent public health consultant
05.2017 - Current
General Practitioner
05.2017 - 03.2021
Project Director - various projects
Population Services International
05.2016 - 04.2017
Country Director
FHI 360
03.2015 - 04.2016
Project Director and Senior Evaluations Methods Expert
University Research Co. LLC (URC)
01.2008 - 07.2013
Project Manager (HIV treatment)
Foundation for Professional Development
09.2007 - 12.2007
Senior Clinical Executive
Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital
01.2005 - 01.2006
MB ChB - undefined
University of Natal
MSc (Clinical Epidemiology) - Clinical Epidemiology
University of Pretoria