Global Health Academic & Science Diplomat [South Africa]

Dr. Mutshidzi Mulondo is an award-winning Global Health Academic championing public health strategy that prioritize mental health and health equity. She is part of the pioneering team instrumental in establishing the first Division of Public Health at the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa where she was involved in the international comparability of the public health programs.

She was formerly a Visiting Scholar at the Beaver College of Health Sciences, Appalachian State University, USA. She champions Science Diplomacy efforts as a member of the Global Young Academy, South African Young Academy of Science and UNESCO’s Action Group for Women in Science. She was the first academic in her institution to be accepted to the prestigious Global Young Academy which represents top young academics in the world. She currently represents South Africa as an Advisor and Council Member in the Golden Key International Council of Advisors where she oversees all 25 academic chapters in South Africa. She has represented her country as a youth delegate at the United Nations Summit of the Future, African Union Pan-African Youth Forum, and G20 South African Presidency Research & Innovation working group.

She is a recipient of the South African Health Excellence Award, Zenith Global Health Award and Leadership Luminary Award. She is recognised globally as a Novartis Reimagining Healthcare Scholar, Mandela Washington Fellow, One Young World Ambassador, Envision Global Young Leader and Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South African. Dr. Mulondo has an interdisciplinary Doctoral degree in Community Health and Health Professions Education- which became the first interdisciplinary PhD of its kind at UFS- also making her the youngest academic with a PhD in her faculty at the same. She also holds a Masters degree in Psychology from the University of Pretoria.