Meet Mrs Jeanette Raad, Chief Medical Technologist: Urodynamics & Manometric Specialist, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
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“I am so inspired when I see the happy smiling faces of the children I have helped change over the years. Many come from poor social and economic backgrounds and would not have had access to such specialized services if it was not for the doctors and nursing staff who dedicate their time and energy to changing lives.“
Mrs Jeanette Raad trained and qualified as a Medical Technologist (Haematology) at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. The workload was extensive, and she believes this gave her a great foundation and work ethic. She moved to Cape Town in 1981 and has dedicated her life to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital for over 36 years.
Mrs Raad initially worked in the Haematology & Blood Transfusion Department and then in 1987, after completing another national qualification, this time in Microbiology, she transferred to the Microbiology Department. She later moved to the Paediatric Surgical Department as a senior research technologist where she trained and completed her third National Diploma, this time in Laboratory Science.
“During this time, I was involved in many research projects, including setting up the Liver Transplantation Programme with Professor Alastair Millar. I also took over the tasks of performing and analysing clinical pH studies in children with GORD”
Mrs Raad also set up Anorectal Manometry studies for diagnosis, functional assessment and treatment protocols with the main focus on children with Hirschsprung’s disease. She has assisted with performing indirect calorimetry i.e. metabolic assessment in mainly C2 Burns patients, in collaboration with the Dietetic Department.
In 2004, Mrs Raad was approached by Professor Mignon McCulloch (Nephrology) and Professor John Lazarus (Urology) to set up a Paediatric Urodynamics Unit at the Hospital and spent a week at Great Ormond Street Hospital and St Guy & Thomas with Dr Anne Wright in London, UK where she observed and learnt from existing specialised units.
In September 2005, the D4 Urodynamics & Manometric Unit opened its doors to children at the Hospital. Services offered include Uroflowmetry, Urodynamics, Video Urodynamics, Ambulatory Urodynamics, pH Impedance Studies, and Anorectal Manometry. Currently, the Unit receives referrals from all over South Africa.
“Education is very important to me and I spend hours educating parents, patients and care-givers. I also train local and foreign Registrars, nursing staff, and medical students.”
Working with Paediatric patients it is of utmost importance to obtain useful clinical information and these studies need to be relevant, reliable and reproducible. Performing invasive studies on children can be both physically and mentally draining so it is essential to get the patients co-operation, to have a pleasant cheerful testing environment as well as the presence of a family member to help reduce fear and anxiety. Language barriers are a huge obstacle in gaining a child’s trust and educating parents.”
Mrs Raad’s personal goals are to travel and spend more quality time with her family, including two dogs and a cat, hiking and cycling. Her passion is oil painting and lawn bowling. However, these may have to wait, as she is determined to create a Paediatric Urodynamics Unit to international standards.
“I am encouraged to carry on when I see the happy smiling faces of the children I have helped change over the years, knowing that many come from poor social and economic backgrounds. They would not have had access to such a service if it was not for the doctors and nursing staff who dedicate their time and energy to change lives and the Children’s Hospital Trust helping to make this all possible.”
Mrs Jeanette Raad
National Diploma in Medical Technology (Haematology)
National Diploma in Medical Technology (Microbiology)
National Diploma in Laboratory Science
Chief Medical Technologist: Urodynamics & Manometric Specialist
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
“I am so inspired when I see the happy smiling faces of the children I have helped change over the years. Many come from poor social and economic backgrounds and would not have had access to such specialized services if it was not for the doctors and nursing staff who dedicate their time and energy to changing lives.”
“I am so inspired when I see the happy smiling faces of the children I have helped change over the years. Many come from poor social and economic backgrounds and would not have had access to such specialized services if it was not for the doctors and nursing staff who dedicate their time and energy to changing lives.“
Mrs Jeanette Raad trained and qualified as a Medical Technologist (Haematology) at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. The workload was extensive, and she believes this gave her a great foundation and work ethic. She moved to Cape Town in 1981 and has dedicated her life to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital for over 36 years.
Mrs Raad initially worked in the Haematology & Blood Transfusion Department and then in 1987, after completing another national qualification, this time in Microbiology, she transferred to the Microbiology Department. She later moved to the Paediatric Surgical Department as a senior research technologist where she trained and completed her third National Diploma, this time in Laboratory Science.
“During this time, I was involved in many research projects, including setting up the Liver Transplantation Programme with Professor Alastair Millar. I also took over the tasks of performing and analysing clinical pH studies in children with GORD”
Mrs Raad also set up Anorectal Manometry studies for diagnosis, functional assessment and treatment protocols with the main focus on children with Hirschsprung’s disease. She has assisted with performing indirect calorimetry i.e. metabolic assessment in mainly C2 Burns patients, in collaboration with the Dietetic Department.
In 2004, Mrs Raad was approached by Professor Mignon McCulloch (Nephrology) and Professor John Lazarus (Urology) to set up a Paediatric Urodynamics Unit at the Hospital and spent a week at Great Ormond Street Hospital and St Guy & Thomas with Dr Anne Wright in London, UK where she observed and learnt from existing specialised units.
In September 2005, the D4 Urodynamics & Manometric Unit opened its doors to children at the Hospital. Services offered include Uroflowmetry, Urodynamics, Video Urodynamics, Ambulatory Urodynamics, pH Impedance Studies, and Anorectal Manometry. Currently, the Unit receives referrals from all over South Africa.
“Education is very important to me and I spend hours educating parents, patients and care-givers. I also train local and foreign Registrars, nursing staff, and medical students.”
Working with Paediatric patients it is of utmost importance to obtain useful clinical information and these studies need to be relevant, reliable and reproducible. Performing invasive studies on children can be both physically and mentally draining so it is essential to get the patients co-operation, to have a pleasant cheerful testing environment as well as the presence of a family member to help reduce fear and anxiety. Language barriers are a huge obstacle in gaining a child’s trust and educating parents.”
Mrs Raad’s personal goals are to travel and spend more quality time with her family, including two dogs and a cat, hiking and cycling. Her passion is oil painting and lawn bowling. However, these may have to wait, as she is determined to create a Paediatric Urodynamics Unit to international standards.
“I am encouraged to carry on when I see the happy smiling faces of the children I have helped change over the years, knowing that many come from poor social and economic backgrounds. They would not have had access to such a service if it was not for the doctors and nursing staff who dedicate their time and energy to change lives and the Children’s Hospital Trust helping to make this all possible.”
Mrs Jeanette Raad
National Diploma in Medical Technology (Haematology)
National Diploma in Medical Technology (Microbiology)
National Diploma in Laboratory Science
Chief Medical Technologist: Urodynamics & Manometric Specialist
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
