Dr. Kirti Ramdani has reached a historic milestone by becoming the first African woman to qualify in both pediatric and plastic surgery. Despite her achievements, Ramdani emphasizes that her motivation was the desire to provide comprehensive care to children, rather than the pursuit of recognition.
At the age of 38, the surgeon, who works at Tigerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, recently completed exams in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery. Prior to this, she had already obtained pediatric surgeon qualifications through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) in 2021.
Her success was recognized by the Smile Foundation, where she volunteers as a specialist helping children with congenital facial differences and other reconstructive problems. Ramdani shared that this moment was the result of many years of perseverance, self-sacrifice, and faith.
Ramdani explains that the combination of these two disciplines has shaped her approach to patient care. In her view, pediatric surgery taught her to view the child holistically, while plastic surgery provided the tools to restore not only appearance and function but also confidence, hope, and dignity. She believes that the boundary between these specialties exists more in educational programs than in the lives of the children they treat.
She recalls that a child with a cleft lip requires not just an operation, but years of coordinated surgical care, including reconstruction, development, function, and aesthetics.
Dr. Ramdani received her medical degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), after which she completed her internship at New Somerset Hospital in Cape Town. She then returned to KZN for community service and worked as a medical officer in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Grace Hospital from 2014 to 2017.
It was there that she gained extensive experience as a junior surgeon, including procedures for correcting cleft lip and palate, before obtaining a post-specialist qualification in pediatric surgery. In 2021, after registering for final pediatric surgery exams, she took on another highly competitive position in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery at Tigerberg Hospital.
Ramdani links her passion for surgery to a childhood experience involving her younger brother. She remembers wanting to be as helpful as the ENT specialist who helped them. Later, in medical college, she realized that while there was no cure for allergic rhinitis, there were methods for precise and rapid problem resolution, which sparked her love for surgery.
A special moment in her career was the first meeting with a mother seeing her child after cleft lip repair surgery in 2014. This moment left an indelible impression, as she saw hope and a future in the mother's eyes.
She describes reconstructive surgery as something simultaneously technical and artistic, requiring ingenuity and precision to achieve life-changing results.
She attributes her pursuit of two complex surgical disciplines to the idea that 'providence met hard work.' Ramdani notes that her spiritual aspirations are guided by the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda's principle that 'service to humanity is service to God.' Her parents, Sham and Shirley Ramdani, had a huge influence, teaching her resilience, honesty, and the importance of education.
Outside the operating room, she draws strength from her family. She is married to pediatric surgeon Shamaman Harilal, who practices in the private sector of Cape Town, and they have a daughter. Time with family helps her maintain balance and makes her a more compassionate surgeon.
Ramdani highly values the multidisciplinary teams that support children during difficult times. She emphasizes that help is provided through the strength, dynamism, and flexibility of such teams, which include nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, pediatricians, surgeons of various specialties, and other specialists.
As a member of the Smile Foundation, she says the organization continues to change lives by making specialized surgery accessible to children who might otherwise not receive it. She hopes her journey will inspire the younger generation of doctors, showing that origin does not determine potential, and calling for Africa to lead in innovation and compassion.
Dr. Kirti Ramdhani has reached a historic milestone by becoming the first African specialist qualified in both pediatric and plastic surgery. Ramdhani herself emphasized that her motivation was the desire to provide comprehensive care to children, rather than the pursuit of recognition.
This 38-year-old surgeon works at Tigerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University in Cape Town. She recently completed exams in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery, having previously qualified as a pediatric surgeon through the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) in 2021.
Her success has been recognized by the Smile Foundation, where she volunteers as a specialist helping children with congenital facial differences and other reconstructive problems. Ramdhani shared that this moment was the result of many years of perseverance, self-sacrifice, and faith.
Ramdhani explained that the unique combination of two disciplines has shaped her approach to patient care. In her view, pediatric surgery taught her to care for a child holistically, while plastic surgery provided the tools to restore not only form and function but also confidence, hope, and dignity. She believes that the boundary between these two specialties exists more in educational curricula than in the lives of the children they treat.
She noted that a child with a cleft lip requires not just an operation, but years of coordinated surgical care, including reconstruction, development, function, and aesthetics.
Dr. Ramdhani received her medical degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), followed by an internship at New Somerset Hospital in Cape Town. She then returned to KZN for public service and worked as a medical officer in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Grace Hospital from 2014 to 2017.
It was there that she gained extensive experience as a junior surgeon, including procedures for correcting cleft lip and palate, before obtaining her post-specialist qualification in pediatric surgery. In 2021, after registering for final pediatric surgery exams, she took on another highly competitive position in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery at Tigerberg Hospital.
Ramdhani links her passion for surgery to a childhood experience involving her younger brother. When he was ill, she wished she could help others like an ENT specialist did. Later, in medical college, she realized that while there were no cures for allergic rhinitis, there were ways to solve problems precisely and effectively, which sparked her love for surgery.
A special moment in her career was meeting the mother who saw her child after cleft lip repair surgery in 2014. She noted the mother's genuine emotion upon seeing the face she had prayed for, realizing that there was hope for the future in her eyes.
Beyond professional achievements, her motivation is deeply connected to the spiritual teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda's principle that 'service to humanity is service to God.' Her parents, Sham and Shirley Ramdhani, had a profound influence, teaching her resilience, honesty, and the importance of education.
Outside the operating room, Ramdhani draws strength from her family. She is married to pediatric surgeon Shamaman Harilal, who practices in the private sector of Cape Town, and they have a daughter. She emphasizes that family is her primary source of balance.
Ramdhani highly values multidisciplinary teams that support children during difficult times. She lists numerous specialists, including nurses, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, as well as various surgeons and geneticists, asserting that caring for children is never the work of one person.
As a member of the Smile Foundation, she notes that the organization makes specialized surgery accessible to children who might otherwise not receive it. In conclusion, she hopes her journey will inspire the younger generation of doctors, reminding them that origin does not determine potential, and that Africa is capable of leading through innovation and compassion.
