Professor Khathutshelo Percy Mashige trained as an Anatomist at the University of Witwatersrand and an Optometrist at the former University of Durban Westville. He is the current Dean and Head of School of Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Professor Mashige is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the African Vision Research Institute (AVRI); Chairperson of the Education, Training and Registration Committee ( ETRC) of the Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians (PBODO); Chairperson of the African Eye Institute (AEI); Chairperson of the Global Institute for Entrepreneurship and Ethics (GIEE); and Chairperson of the Community Self Mastery Coaching Institute (CSMCI). He is a founding member of the African Translational Research Group and the Centre for Eye Care and Public Health Intervention Initiative (CEPHII), which are forums of African researchers across the globe to stimulate greater collaboration in Africa in health-related research.
Prof Mashige has published extensively in clinical optometry, epidemiology and public health. His research has been used for designing and implementing programmes as well as for policy development in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. He is an NRF rated scientist and an Associate Editor of BMC Ophthalmology. He serves on the Advisory Board of the South African Health Review journal. Professor Mashige is a Moderator, School of Optometry and Vision Science, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), Kenya. He has contributed to the design and development of Masters and new PhD curricula at MMUST.
Professor Mashige is a recipient of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Impact Acceleration Award from the UK, South African Netherlands Partnership on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD) Award, South African Medical Research Council National Health Scholarship (SAMRC) Award, and is a Developing Research Innovation Leadership and Innovation (DRILL) Fellow. He is a recipient of the South African Optometric Association (SAOA) Award for outstanding contribution to Optometry.
