Hanneke is a full professor and family medicine specialist at the Free State Department of Health (DoH) joint staff establishment and the University of the Free State (UFS). She loves clinical work, mainly in paediatrics, obstetrics and paediatric palliative care and is involved in daily patient care. Hanneke is an NRF-rated researcher with 48 publications in peer-reviewed journals and an i10-index of 12. She supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate student research projects that looked at baseline data regarding child health in our setting, like oral rehydration, malnutrition, HIV, jaundice and prematurity. One of the undergraduate articles already has 189 citations. Her research focuses on guideline development and implementation to address the reduction of child morbidity and mortality and promote overall health and assessment in education. She serves on the editorial board of the South African Family Practice Journal and is a reviewer for numerous accredited journals.

She has been a paediatric palliative care (PPC) physician, voluntary medical director, and doctor at Sunflower Children`s Hospice since 2000. South Africa is a world leader in PPC for children with HIV and other diseases of poverty, like malnutrition. As an executive member of the International Children`s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN), she collaborates with and supports people worldwide in compiling guidelines and rendering quality care for children. She is a member of the Faculty for international training programmes in African and Indian countries.
Education and training are her other passions. With a background in guideline development and active involvement in student training, she believes assessment is crucial to ensure reliable results for all stakeholders. She obtained her PhD in Health Professions Education at the UFS titled "Best practices for quality assessment in the clinical phase of undergraduate medical training". On a national level, she is the Chair of the Education Committee of the South African Academy of Family Physicians and the lead trainer and course coordinator for the national Train the

Clinical Trainer course in Southern Africa. She also leads the national clinical training programme of the Colleges of Medicine in South Africa to implement workplace-based assessment at all universities. She is a co-editor and author of the South African Family Practice Manual and a chapter author for the Oxford Handbook of Family Medicine. 

With over 30 years of work experience, she sees her role as empowering others to be the best versions of themselves by supporting and assisting their development. Her motto is that she achieved her goal if she helped others become better than herself. 

List of published articles

2002 - Dippenaar H, Joubert G. The treatment of COAD: Is the EDL sufficient? SA Fam Pract. 2002, 26 (1): 7-10.

2005 - Dippenaar H. Is Quality Control useful? An audit on the saving measures regarding prescriptions at National District Hospital in Bloemfontein. SA Fam Pract 2005; 47 (9): 60-62.

2005 - Dippenaar H, Joubert G, Nel, R, Bantobetse ML, Opawole AA, Roshen KS. Homemade sugar-salt solution for oral rehydration: Knowledge of mothers and caregivers. SA Fam Pract 2005; 47 (2) 47-49.

2005 - Dippenaar H, Joubert G, v Rooyen C. How cheap is primary health care? Cost per script at the Heidedal Community Health Center and National District Hospital in Bloemfontein. SA Fam Pract 2005; 47 (7): 37-40.

2006 - Dippenaar H, Joubert G, Brussow M. Guidelines for Kangaroo Care in district hospitals and primary healthcare maternity sections in the Free State. SA Fam Pract 2006; 48 (9): 16-16c.

2007 - Rodriques AN, Nel M, Dippenaar H, Prinsloo EAM. Good short-term outcomes of kangaroo mother care in infants with a low birth weight in a rural South African hospital. SA Fam Pract 2007; 49 (5): 15-15c.

2007 - Van der Sande M, Dippenaar H, Rutten GE.: The relationship between patient education and glycaemic control in a South African township. Primary Diabetes Care 2007: 1: 87-91.

2008 - Dippenaar H, Grobler L, Joubert G. Multidisciplinary training of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health Science: Hypertension as a case study. SA Fam Pract. 2008; 50 (4); 70-72.

2008 -Dippenaar H, Steinberg WJ. Evaluation of clinical medicine in the final post graduate exams in Family Medicine. SA Fam Pract 2008 ;50 (1): 16-16c.

2009 - Brits H, Harding R, Penfold S.: Paediatric antiretroviral therapy outcomes under HIV hospice care in South Africa. Int. J Palliat Nurs, 2009: 15(3); 142-5.

2009 - Steenkamp l, Dannhauser A, Walsh D, Joubert G, Veldman FJ, van der Walt E, Dippenaar H. Nutritional, immune, micronutrient and health status if HIV-infected children in care centres in Mangaung. S Afr J Clin Nutr 2009: 22(3): 131-136.

2009 -Brits H, Joubert G. An investigation into the dramatic increase in deaths from gastro-enteritis during the summer of 2007/2008 at National District Hospital, Bloemfontein Free State. SA Fam Pract. 2009. 51 (5) 418-422.

2011 - Brits H, Marston J. Palliative care for children: pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Africa Health 2011: 33(5); 28-30.

2013 - Brits H, Augustyn R, Bezuidenhout E, Cillie M, Janse van Vuuren R, Joubert G. The nutritional status of Grade 1 pupils, in Bloemfontein, South Africa and its association with socio-demographic data. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2013;5(1)

2014 - Brits H, Bezuidenhout J, Steinberg WJ, Joubert G. An evaluation of the assessment tool used for Extensive mini-dissertations in the Master’s Degree in Family Medicine, University of the Free State S Afr Fam Pract 2014;56(2)125-133.

2014 - Kotze JM, Brits H, Monatisa MS, and Botes PJ. 2014. Practical completion of pages 1 and 4 of the J88 form. Part 2: Medico-legal documentation. South African Family Practice 2014; 56(6):32-37.

2014 -Kotze, JM, Brits, H. and Botes, PJ. 2014. Part 1: Medico-legal documentation South African Police Services forms, Department of Justice forms and patient information. South African Family Practice 56(5):16-22.

2015 - Brits H, Branders L, Claassen M, Saaiman D, Strauss R, van Staden A, Joubert, G. 2015. The prevalence of multiple losses experienced by children from birth to 18 years in the National District Hospital in Bloemfontein. South African Family Practice. 56(5):1–5.

2015 - Brits H, Adriaanse M, Rall D-M, Van Biljon M, Van der Walt A, Wasserman E, Joubert, G. Causes of prematurity in the Bloemfontein Academic Complex. South African Family Practice, 2015; 3(1):1–6.

2015 - Downing J, Singh JS, Mathews L, Brits H, Friedrichsdorf SJ. Pediatric pain management in palliative care. Pain Manag. 2015:5(1);23–35.

2015 - Gordon SAN, Brits H, Raubenheimer JE. The effectiveness of the implementation of the Cape Triage Score at the emergency department of the National District Hospital, Bloemfontein. South African Family Practice. 1(1):1–6.

2015 - Kotze JM, Brits H, Botes PJ. Practical completion of pages 2 and 3 of the J88 form. Part 3: Medico-legal documentation South African Family Practice 2015; 57(1):16-22.

 2016 - Ogah AO, Jama MP, Brits H, Ogah OGA. Measuring the quality of the Objective structured clinical examination in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of the resource-limited institution in East Africa. Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., 2016:4(11A):3876-3882. 

2016 - Ogah AO, Jama MP, Brits H, Ogah OGA. Psychometric properties of the Objective structured clinical examination in the Paediatrics department of a resource-limited institution in East Africa. Sch. J. App. Med. Sci., 2016:4(11A):3868-3875. DOI:10.21276/sjams.2016.4.11.3

2017 - Brits H, Joubert G, Eyman K, De Vink R, Lesaoana K, Makhetha S, Moeketsi K. An assessment of the integrated nutrition programme for malnourished children aged six months to five years at primary healthcare facilities in Mangaung, Free State, South Africa. South African Family Practice 1(1) :P 1-5 http://dx.doi.org/10/1080/20786190.2017.1340252

2017 - Brits H. Child deaths at National District Hospital, Free State: One a month is better than one a week. Online; http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2017.1317991

2017 - Brits H, Botha A, Niksch L, Terblanché R, Venter K, Joubert G. Illegible handwriting and other prescription errors on prescriptions at National District Hospital, Bloemfontein. South African Family Practice 2017;59(1):51-55.

2017 -Kotzé JM, Brits H. The emergency management of a rape case in a nutshell: adolescent and adult cases. South African Family Practice. Online http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2017.1280900

2018 - Allie Z, le Roux E, Mahlatsi K, Mofokeng B, Ramoo Z-A, Sibiya K, Joubert G, van Rooyen JP, Brits H. Bereavement overload and its effect on, and related coping mechanisms of health care providers and ward administrators at the National District Hospital in Bloemfontein, Free State. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine. Onlinehttps://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v10i1.1652.

2018 - Brits H, Adendorf J, Huisamen D, Beukes D, Botha K, Herbst H, Joubert G. The prevalence of neonatal jaundice and risk factors in healthy neonates at National District Hospital in Bloemfontein. African Journal of Primary Healthcare and Family Medicine. 10(1). A1582. https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v10i.1582

2018 - Brits H. A descriptive study of trends in the pictures drawn by primary school learners in South Africa. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2018;24(7):316-321. doi: 10.12968/ijpn.2018.24.7.316. PMID: 30044702.

2018 - Kotze JM, Brits H. Do we miss half of injuries sustained during rape because we cannot see them? An overview of the use of toluidine blue stain in the medical assessment of rape. South African Family Practice. 2018;60(2):37-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2017.1386868

2019 - Brits H, Joubert G, Lomberg L, Djan P, Makoro G, Mokoena M, Malate P, Tengu D. #FeesMustFall2016: Perceived and measured effect on clinical medical students. S Afr Med J 2019; 109(7): 493-497. DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2019.v109i7.13686

2019 - Kotzé JM, Brits H. Child sexual abuse: The significance of the history and testifying on non-confirmatory findings. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2019;11(1), a1954. DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.1954 (Review article)

2020 - Brits H, Bezuidenhout J, Van der Merwe LJ, Joubert G. Assessment practices in undergraduate clinical medicine training: What do we do and how can we improve? Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2020;12(1), a2341. DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2341

2020 - Brits H, Bezuidenhout J, Van der Merwe LJ. A framework to benchmark the quality of clinical assessment in a South African undergraduate medical programme. South African Family Practice. 2020;62(1), a5030. DOI: 10.4102/safp.v62i1.5030

2020 - Brits H, Bezuidenhout J, Van der Merwe LJ. Quality assessment in undergraduate medical training: how to bridge the gap between what we do and what we should do. Pan African Medical Journal. 2020;36:79. 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.79.23658

2020 – Brits H, Botha L, Maakomane W, Malefane T, Tayob L, Tsoeueamakwa T, Joubert G. The profile and clinical picture of children with undernutrition admitted to National District Hospital. Pan African Medical Journal. 2020;37(237). 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.237.25261

2020 - Brits H, Joubert G, Mudzwari F, Ramashomole M, Nthimo M, Thamae N, Pilenyane M, Mamabolo M. The completion of partograms: knowledge, attitudes and practices of midwives in a public health obstetric unit in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Pan African Medical Journal. 2020;36:301. Doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.301.24880.

2020 - Brits H., Bezuidenhout J, Van der Merwe L.J. & Joubert, G. Students’ voices: assessment in undergraduate clinical medicine. Pan African Medical Journal. 2020;36:130. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.130.22168

2021 - Brits H, Joubert G, Bezuidenhout J, Van der Merwe LJ. Evaluation of assessment marks in the clinical years of an undergraduate medical training programme: Where are we and how can we improve? Afr J Health Professions Educ 2021;13(4):222-228. doi.org/10.7196/AJHPE.2021.v13i4.1379.

2022 - Benedict MOA, Brits H. Induction of labour practices at Botshabelo District Hospital: Assessing the institutional guidelines. J Public Health Afr. 2022, 26;13(2):2153. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2022.2153. PMID: 36051530; PMCID: PMC9425927

2022 - Burger H, Krause R, Blanchard C, Ambler J, Ganca L, Barnard A, Meiring M, Ratshikana-Moloko M, Brits H, Brand T, Scott M, Mabuza L, Bac M, Zele-Mqonci N, Yogeswaran P, Gwyther L. Position paper on undergraduate Palliative Medicine education for doctors in South Africa. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam. 2022; 14(1):a3202. DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3202

2022 - Groenewald L, Faber L, Fourie J, Müller M, Van der Westhuizen K, Kapp DD, Swanepoel R, Brits H. Oxygen as a drug and scarce commodity: Do we use it rationally? S Afr Fam Pract. 2022;64(1), a5544.

2023 - Brits H. A national training course for clinical trainers in family medicine. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2024;16(1), a4341. https:// doi.org/10.4102/phcfm. v16i1.434

2023 - Jenkins LS, Mash R, Motsohi T, Naidoo M, Ras T, Cooke R, Brits H. Developing entrustable professional activities for family medicine training in South Africa. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2023 Feb 17;65(1):e1-e6. doi: 10.4102/safp.v65i1.5690. PMID: 36861915; PMCID: PMC9982504

2024 - Nash J, Ross AJ, Naidoo M, Ras T, Brits H, Mathew S. Health budget cuts will be paid for by the most vulnerable. S Afr Fam Pract. 2024;66(1), a5934. https://doi.org/10.4102/safp. v66i1.5934

Treatment guidelines

Paediatric palliative care

Assessment in Education

Undergraduate medicine, physiotherapy and occupational therapy

Post graduate Family Medicine

Medical Director Sunflower Children`s Hospice

Community training and support programmes

Crazy socks for docs

CANSA Shavaton

No student should go hungry fundraiser

Interprofessional training

Community projects and community based training in Trompsburg and Springfontein