Denise SPROUL, from South Africa, is a dedicated clinician, academic, and researcher, as well as a proud wife and mother of two boys. She is pursuing a PhD in obstetrics and gynecology at Stellenbosch University. Her doctoral research explores caregivers’ and healthcare workers’ cultural beliefs and perceptions regarding safe infant sleep practices. This work aims to inform a simple, scalable intervention with the potential to prevent an estimated 2,500 infant deaths annually.
Denise is passionate about teaching and capacity building and serves as a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University. She completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of Cape Town and has cultivated strong academic interests in research methodology, reproductive health, and women’s health.
In 2024, Denise graduated cum laude with an MSc in clinical epidemiology from Stellenbosch University. Her previous research has been endorsed by the Global Evidence, Local Adaptation initiative, and the University of Stellenbosch, which supports the development of contextually relevant, evidence-based guidelines for newborn and child health in low-resource settings.
Denise has a longstanding commitment to professional development and leadership within her field. She served on the executive committee of the South African Association of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for four years, first as communications officer and subsequently as president. She has also represented South Africa in the World Association of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynecology and served as the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO) trainee representative for South Africa in 2022.
