About Dr Lownie

Dr Lownie graduated with her medical degree (MBBCh) from Wits University in 2003. She completed her internship at Groote Schuur Hospital in 2004 and her community service at East Griqualand and Usher Memorial Hospital in Kokstad.

Thereafter, Dr Lownie was diagnosed with a form of cancer which, at the time, carried a prognosis of less than a 20% chance of five-year survival. As a result of the treatments and surgeries she had to undergo, working in clinical medicine was almost impossible. She therefore worked for several years as a clinical trial coordinator and research programme manager, and ultimately became the Trauma Programme Manager at Netcare Milpark Hospital. During this time, she gained invaluable insight not only into trauma and emergency medicine, but also into the management of clinical trials and other important areas of research. She also completed a Master of Science in Emergency Medicine (MSc Med Emergency Medicine) and gained clinical experience working in various private emergency departments in Johannesburg.

In 2012, Dr Lownie left Netcare to work for a few months in a corporate pharmaceutical environment. This experience, combined with her personal journey with cancer, piqued her interest in the field of psychiatry and mental health.

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