About SAMS
The South African Menopause Society (SAMS) is a medical association of healthcare professionals dedicated to promoting women’s health during midlife and beyond, through the understanding of menopause.
Our membership comprises leaders in the field of health care including clinical and basic science experts from medicine (O&G in particular), nursing, physiotherapy, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, and education. This multi-disciplinary focus sets SAMS as a dominant resource on all aspects of menopause to both healthcare providers and the public.
Contact Email: info@menopause.co.za
Website: https://www.menopause.co.za
Executive
President and Treasurer
Dr Malikah Van Der Schyff, MBCHB (UCT), FCOG (SA) is the current president of the South African Menopause Society (SAMS). She is an obstetrician and gynaecologist who has practiced at MediClinic, Constantiaberg for the past 20 years. Dr Van der Schyff has many special interests within gynaecology, including PCOS, minimally invasive surgery, and midlife women’s health. Her work experience has given her a comprehensive understanding of the inequities that exist between the public and private healthcare sectors in South Africa. She is outspoken about patients’ rights and dignity in public healthcare. She is actively involved in health advocacy within the medico-political sphere, and has been involved at a senior level on the boards of several medical associations , including the South African Medical Association (SAMA), and the South African Private Practice Forum (SAPPF). Dr Van der Schyff is also currently in senior leadership in various obstetrics and gynaecological special interest groups; the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ( SASOG), the Gynaecology Management Group (GMG), and the South African Menopause Society (SAMS). She continues to focus on public and political change in the industry, resulting in better ethical and effective care for women’s health and medicine.
Treasurer
Dr Phillip Zinn, MBBCh, FRCOG, MMed (O&G) is an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Cape Town. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and has an MMed (O&G) from the University of Cape Town. He has been in full-time private practice since 2001 with focus, inter alia, on reproductive endocrinology. He has served on the SAMS Council since 2016.
Ex-officio President
Dr Percy Moodley, MB Ch B; FRCOG; FCOG; FECSM is a General Obstetrician and Gynaecologist / Sexual Medicine Physician. He is a past president of the South African Menopause Society (SAMS). His interests include menopausal hormone therapy for midlife women, sexuality in menopause and addressing the needs of breast cancer survivors
Honorary Secretary
Dr Nicole Jaff, PhD, MSCP is a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Menopause Society (IMS), and serves on the Executive Council of the South African Menopause Society. She is a Menopause Society (MS) Certified Menopause Practitioner (MSCP) and an honorary lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand (Chemical Pathology), and at University College London ( Clinical, Education & Health Psychology). She has given numerous webinars talks and workshops on midlife health and menopause throughout South Africa and internationally, and published four books on menopause to help empower women to their midlife health. She has been awarded two awards by the MS – a New Investigator award (September, 2019) and the NAMS/Ann Voda Community Service Award (2018). She serves on the Editorial Boards of Climacteric, and Women’s Midlife Health, (BioMed Central).
Council Members
Trudy Smith
Clayton Grieve
Lineo Matsela
Miems Kleynhans
Candice Morrison
Johannes Van Waart
Dr Jojo Jordaan
Tobie De Villiers
Jacky Searle
Educational resources
News
Press Releases and Industry News
Join SAMS
Click here for the online application: SAMS Membership Application and Renewal – Menopause
