Practice
Dr Liana Roodt
Breast and Endocrine Surgeon
MBChB; FCS (SA); MMed (Surgery) (Cum Laude)
Dr. Liana Roodt is a distinguished specialist in breast and endocrine surgery, renowned for her commitment to delivering comprehensive and compassionate patient care. Her practice is firmly rooted in evidence-based medicine and rigorous surgical discipline, with a particular emphasis on onco-plastic breast cancer surgeries. Dr. Roodt's holistic approach ensures that patients receive not only surgical treatment but also access to a full spectrum of breast and personal health services.
After matriculating with distinction from Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool in Pretoria in 1999, where she served as head girl, Dr. Roodt earned her MBChB from the University of Pretoria in 2006. During her medical studies, she demonstrated exceptional leadership, serving on the medical student curriculum committee from 2004 to 2006 and chairing the medical student council in 2006. In recognition of her leadership and service, she received an award of excellence from the University of Pretoria that same year.
Dr. Roodt completed her internship at Groote Schuur Hospital in 2008 and her community service in Barberton, Mpumalanga, in 2009. Upon returning to Cape Town, she served as a surgical medical officer at GF Jooste Hospital while completing a postgraduate certificate in Integrative Medicine at the University of Stellenbosch. In 2010, she founded Project Flamingo, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the long and distressing treatment waiting times faced by breast cancer patients in South Africa's public healthcare sector. Project Flamingo embodies Dr. Roodt's belief that all breast cancer patients, regardless of socio-economic status, deserve timely and compassionate care.
In 2012, Dr. Roodt joined the Department of Surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital, where she obtained her Fellowship of the College of Surgeons of South Africa (FCS(SA)) and a Master’s degree in Surgery (MMed (Surg)) Cum Laude from the University of Cape Town in 2016. During her training, she received multiple awards for her research, was appointed Chief Resident, and was named one of the top 10 healthcare innovators of 2014 by the UCT Graduate School of Business’ Bertha Institute. In 2017, she was recognized as one of ten “inspirational women to know in South Africa” by Culture Trip for her work with Project Flamingo.
After qualifying as a specialist, Dr. Roodt worked as a consultant surgeon and fellow in the Surgical Breast and Endocrine and Trauma Surgery Units at Groote Schuur Hospital. She used this opportunity to refine her expertise in breast surgery, learning from both local and international experts, and gained valuable experience in managing surgical endocrine pathologies, particularly thyroid and parathyroid diseases. During this time, she also lectured pre- and postgraduate surgical students at the University of Cape Town and was regularly invited as a guest speaker at various events and congresses on breast and women's health.
In October 2017, Dr. Roodt established her private breast and endocrine surgery practice, aiming to bring her passion and expertise from the public and academic healthcare sectors to private medicine in South Africa. She continues to serve as a sessional consultant at the Groote Schuur Hospital Breast and Endocrine Unit, maintaining an affiliation with academic medicine to provide up-to-date and evidence-based care in the private sector. This dual role enables her to contribute to bridging the gap between private and public healthcare in South Africa.
Dr. Roodt's dedication to patient care and her innovative approach to addressing challenges in breast cancer treatment have been widely recognized. Her work with Project Flamingo has provided hope to numerous patients by reducing waiting times for life-saving surgeries. She has been featured in various media outlets for her contributions to healthcare and her role as a leading female surgeon in South Africa.
In addition to her clinical and philanthropic endeavors, Dr. Roodt has made significant contributions to academic research. Her work has been published in reputable journals, including the European Journal of Surgical Oncology and the South African Family Practice Journal. Notably, she co-authored the article "Palpable breast lumps: An age-based approach to evaluation and diagnosis," which discusses a systematic approach for primary care settings.
Another significant publication is "The Role of Magseed in Wide Local Excision for Breast Cancer Post-Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy," highlighting advancements in breast cancer surgery (PubMed Central).
Dr. Roodt also serves as the Executive Director of Cancer Alliance, a collective of cancer control and advocacy organizations in South Africa. In this role, she collaborates with various stakeholders to improve cancer care and support systems nationwide (ResearchGate).
Through her clinical practice, academic involvement, and leadership in cancer advocacy, Dr. Liana Roodt continues to make a significant impact on breast and endocrine surgery in South Africa, striving to ensure that all patients receive the timely, compassionate, and comprehensive care they deserve (Cancer Alliance).