UKZN academic receives prestigious award
Dr Sandile Kubheka at the 10th annual Titanium Awards ceremony in Cape Town.
Image: Supplied
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) clinical educator, Dr Sandile Kubheka who made history in 2014 as the University's youngest ever medical graduate at the age of 20, has been awarded the Dr Clarence Mini Titanium Young Achiever Award.
The 10th Annual Titanium Awards ceremony was held during the 24th Annual Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) Conference in Cape Town.
The Titanium Awards are among the most prestigious accolades in the South African healthcare sector, recognising individuals, institutions and innovations that are advancing access, quality and sustainability in healthcare. Introduced by the BHF, the awards celebrate excellence and impact across the industry.
Reflecting on the Titanium Award, Kubheka said: “This recognition holds weight. It’s not about being the youngest or first — it’s about contributing meaningfully to a system that must keep evolving. I’m deeply honoured to be part of that process.”
Kubheka received the Young Achiever Award — which includes a R50 000 cash prize — for his significant contributions to improving healthcare delivery and mentoring future healthcare professionals. The official citation noted that “his dedication to public health advocacy sets a benchmark for young professionals in the healthcare sector”.
Kubheka’s recognition stands out not only because of his age but for the depth of his influence across multiple dimensions of healthcare. The award further acknowledged his role as a physician-educator whose work reflects consistency, values-driven leadership and long-term vision.
As a clinical educator at UKZN, Kubheka coordinates the third-year Internal Medicine programme and lectures students from third to sixth year. He is known for his structured teaching, hands-on mentorship and leadership in strengthening the design and delivery of clinical assessments such as OSCEs. His teaching is consistently praised for being clear, relevant and grounded in real-world practice.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he completed his registrar training while serving in frontline care and contributing to the international RECOVERY trial, which informed global treatment protocols. His work extends beyond the hospital — through public and professional engagements, he has advocated for strengthening primary healthcare, including early diagnosis of chronic illness, improved hypertension care and better access to nephrology services.
As a medical student, Kubheka served in leadership roles, including as Deputy President of the Happy Valley student clinic. He received the Yashiv Sham Bursary and the Enid Gordon Jacob Good Fellowship Award for clinical excellence, leadership, and compassion. These early acknowledgements laid the foundation for a career defined by service, integrity, and impact.
His professional accolades include being named Young South African of the Year in 2014, inclusion in the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans, and recognition as Best Registrar by UKZN’s College of Health Sciences in 2022.