Dr. Philip Phatudi, MD
Philip Phatudi, MD obtained his undergraduate medical training from the University of Pretoria, in South Africa in 2005. He was selected as one of ten candidates in the country to study his medical degree through a military scholarship. This involved becoming a soldier through the South African Military Health services, where he served initially with the rank of private, and later after his studies became an officer to the rank of Captain. During his studies he was involved in various student leadership structures, including being class President for 4 years out of the six -years of studies. At the end of his training, he was selected as 1 of 2 candidates to represent the University of Pretoria at the Sir Abe Bailey travel bursary fellowship. This was a young leader’s development programme which involved a two-week travel to the United Kingdom and Scotland.
After completing his medical degree, he served in the Military for his internship and compulsory community service years. His military duties included being deployed for three months as a medic to Burundi, to fulfill a peace keeping mission together with the African Union, serving over a thousand South African soldiers. After his return from Burundi, he worked as a Family physician in the field of HIV medicine, as well as in the Gold mines as an Occupational Family Physician at the Anglo Gold Ashanti hospital. He started his Ophthalmology career as a General Practitioner working in a rural hospital of Limpopo, and he was able to do hundreds of cataract operations during the cataract outreach programs in the Limpopo region.
He pursued his specialization in Ophthalmology at the University of the Free State, where he spent 4 years as a resident. After his training, he was awarded the ICO-World Glaucoma Association three months Fellowship, and spent three months in Helsinki, Finland, specializing in glaucoma. He also has a passion for community outreach programmes that aim at alleviating avoidable blindness from cataracts and glaucoma. He is actively involved in community awareness campaigns through radio station talks and arranging glaucoma campaigns. He is also a director of a Non- profit organization known as Hope for the Blind, which was initiated by one of his mentors.
He is a fellow of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. He also obtained his post graduate diplomas in Hiv Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Ophthalmology. He is an executive member of the South African Glaucoma Society. He is also a member of the World Glaucoma Associate Advisory board. He is currently in full time private practice in Johannesburg. He was head of the glaucoma unit at the St John Eye Hospital in Johannesburg and was involved in training of residents and medical students.
He met his wife Precious Phatudi during their early years of medical training, and they decided to both go into the field of Ophthalmology and were fortunate to be granted residency posts at the same institution and at the same time. They are blessed with three handsome and outgoing boys who keep them on their toes. His passion involves the outdoors, hiking, camping, and playing tennis with friends and family.
