Prof Riaz Seedat is Professor and
Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of the Free State (UFS) and in the Free State Department of Health at the Universitas Academic Hospital. It is in this position where he has the opportunity to treat patients, teach students, and conduct research.
As one of the ten academics enrolled in the University Staff Development Programme (USDP), Prof Seedat forms part of the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP), which seeks to transform academic expertise in the field of global health.
In an interview, he revealed the importance of research focused on ENT cases in developing countries.
How has your background shaped the life and academic path you have chosen?
During my internship, I had the opportunity to work in ENT. The field sparked great interest in me, so I decided to specialise in it.
During my training, it became apparent to me that much of the information in the literature was based on research and practices in developed countries and did not reflect the situation in developing countries, where there is a high burden of infectious diseases and presentation of patients with pathology at an advanced stage. My research has been focused on providing a developing country perspective of otorhinolaryngology, particularly with regard to infectious diseases and allergy in the field, creating ENT knowledge that is more relevant to the South African setting.
What drew you to the USDP project’s call?
The USDP provides me with the chance to complete my doctorate on recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a disease that is characterised by recurrent wart-like growths on the surface of the vocal cords or tissue around the vocal cords.
In our context, this affects mostly children and there is a relatively high prevalence of this condition here in the Free State. Research through this PhD will expand knowledge on the diagnosis and management of the condition.
Please tell us more about your research.
I have identified that in South Africa, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, which is caused by the human papillomavirus, occurs more commonly in children than in Europe, where mostly adults are affected. In future, I would like my research to find factors that can help to identify which patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis will develop more severe disease, in order to better treat them.
I have also done work on infectious diseases such as HIV and ENT, describing the impact of HIV in the different ENT conditions we see.
With regard to allergic rhinitis, we have studied the impact of the condition on patients’ quality of life and are identifying the most frequent allergens present in our setting here in the Free State.
Did the pandemic impact your research?
Yes, it did. Being a full-time clinician for the Free State Department of Health meant that we had to dedicate more time towards managing the pandemic. This has affected patient care and the research we do on the patients. Many patients could not access healthcare facilities because of the lockdown, impacting their treatment, as well as research being carried out.
Global health is one of the critical issues for the future of the human species, especially in Africa, where both infectious and non-communicable diseases threaten development. What will your project contribute to the field?
Many of the conditions I am researching are as a result of infectious diseases. Unfortunately, these are conditions that are often neglected as they occur mainly in developing countries. The research will positively impact society through the care and treatment of patients with the condition.
What are your future career plans? How will a PhD qualification assist you in reaching these goals?
A PhD will help me obtain a better understanding of research content and methodologies. I believe that a PhD will also equip me with the knowledge to better supervise individuals who wish to further their academic careers and do their own PhDs.
What is your advice for aspiring PhD candidates?
I would advise someone who wishes to complete a PhD to work on a topic that they have a great interest in, because it is a task that will take much of your time.