Renowned paediatric pulmonologist, UKZN’s Head of Paediatric and Child Health-Professor Refiloe Masekela (@Bronchigirl), has been awarded the prestigious American Thoracic Society (ATS) World Lung Health Award. This esteemed award recognizes outstanding contributions to improving global lung health through translational or implementation research, healthcare delivery, continuing education, patient care, or political advocacy, with a strong emphasis on addressing gender, racial, ethnic, and economic health disparities. The award will be officially presented at the ATS International Conference later this year.
Masekela boasts an impressive career spanning over 17 years in lung health research. She currently holds the distinguished position of National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Professor (2022–2027), with a research focus on paediatric asthma and lung physiological testing. Her work has significantly influenced the field of paediatric respiratory medicine, earning her international acclaim.
Beyond her research, Masekela holds multiple high-profile leadership roles in global lung health initiatives. She serves as the Co-Chair of the Global Asthma Network and the President of the Pan African Thoracic Society. Additionally, she is the Co-Chair of the Federation of Respiratory Societies (FIRS) Lung Health Task Force Steering Committee. Her expertise is further recognized through her membership in leading global organizations, including; Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Scientific Committee, European Respiratory Society (ERS) Global Lung Initiative (GLI) Network Clinical Research Collaboration Committee, ERS Long Range Planning Committee for the Pediatrics Assembly, and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Ethics and Conflict of Interest Committee.
At a national level, Masekela is the current President of the South African Thoracic Society, underscoring her influence in shaping respiratory healthcare policies and practices in South Africa and beyond.
As a prolific researcher, Masekela has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to eight book chapters on paediatric respiratory diseases. Her work has been featured in globally recognized publications such as the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Monograph Global Asthma Report, Manson’s Textbook of Tropical Infectious Diseases and Coovadia’s Textbook of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Beyond her research accomplishments, Masekela is a dedicated mentor, having successfully supervised and graduated 36 PhD and Master’s students. Her commitment to building research capacity in Africa is evident through her role as Co-Director of the PATS-Methods in Epidemiological, Operational, and Clinical Research (MECOR) program, an initiative spearheaded by the American Thoracic Society. She also serves as a faculty member of the Virtual ATS International Pediatric Pulmonology Research Academy (VIPPRA) program and contributes as a mentor and reviewer for the USAID-funded SMART4TB Early-Stage Investigator program.
Additionally, she leads the African Paediatric Fellowship Training Program, an ELMA-funded initiative aimed at enhancing paediatric and paediatric subspecialist training across the African continent to improve child health outcomes.
Masekela’s recognition with the ATS World Lung Health Award is a testament to her unwavering dedication to advancing paediatric respiratory health and reducing health disparities worldwide. Her ground-breaking research, leadership, and mentorship continue to inspire and drive transformative change in global lung health.