Meet The Team

Fertility Specialists

Dr Gerhard Hanekom

Expert in laparoscopic and endometriosis surgery

Dr Gerhard Hanekom studied medicine at the University of Pretoria before specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of the Free State.

He underwent his fellowship training in reproductive medicine with the University of Stellenbosch at Tygerberg Hospital and the Aevitas Fertility Clinic. He completed his sub-specialist training under Professors Thinus Kruger and Igno Siebert as well as Dr Victor Hulme, and is registered at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a fertility specialist.

He holds a second Master’s degree from the University of Stellenbosch attained with research done with Prof Siebert on the effect of endometriosis surgery on ovarian reserve. Furthermore, Dr Hanekom completed sub-specialist training in laparoscopic and endometriosis surgery under Prof Siebert and is certified as a Minimal Invasive Gynaecological Surgeon by the European Academy of Gynaecological Surgery.

He is closely involved in the surgical training of gynaecologists, and regularly hosts laparoscopic training workshops and certification session. He has presented on various fertility and endometriosis related topics at congresses locally and abroad.

Dr Victor Hulme

Passionate about IVF with a special interest in egg freezing

Bringing his wealth of experience in patient care to the practice, with a special interest in ‘egg reserve’, Dr Hulme has been a proud partner at Aevitas Fertility Clinic, since 2012.

After qualifying as an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Hulme completed his two-year fellowship as Fertility Specialist through the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Fertility Clinic, Tygerberg Hospital (1988 - 1989). Dr Hulme’s fellowship was completed under the guidance of Prof Kruger (founder of Aevitas Fertility Clinic).

After his fellowship, Dr Hulme practiced as a fertility specialist at Panorama Mediclinic (northern suburbs of Cape Town), where he also managed a successful Obstetrics and Gynaecology practice.

From an academic perspective, Dr Hulme’s interest lies in decreased egg reserve, leading him to publish an article on this topic (‘Ovarian Reserve in 2013: Making sense of FSH AMH, AFC, ART, COH, DHEA and more’), co-authored by his Aevitas colleague, Prof Siebert.

All this being said, Dr Hulme experiences great satisfaction as physician through the support and assistance he is able to give to patients during their decision-making on the fertility journey.

Dr Hulme is passionate about IVF, finding successful solutions for his patients and building relationships. As he states: "I feel privileged to witness the courage of patients who come to our clinic to share a very private time of their lives with us”.

Prof Thinus Kruger

World recognised for his work in the field of IVF and male fertility

Prof Kruger, the founder of the first IVF clinic in South Africa (Tygerberg Fertility Clinic, Stellenbosch University), is also the proud co-founder and partner of Aevitas Fertility Clinic, established in 2003.

Prof Kruger acted as leader of the team at Tygerberg Fertility Clinic, which lead to:

The first test tube baby in South Africa (1984);
The first frozen embryo pregnancy in South Africa, (1988);
The first baby born from ICSI (intra cytoplasmic sperm injection) in South Africa (1995)
Standardisation of international sperm morphology guidelines, by the World Health Organisation (WHO), from research conducted by the team.

Prof Kruger’s array of qualifications include:

MBChB (University of Pretoria);
MPharmMed (Clin Pharmacol) (University of Pretoria); MMed (Stellenbosch University);
Fellow of the college of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (South Africa);
Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (London);
MD in reproductive medicine (Stellenbosch University)
DSc for the thesis in male infertility, ‘The role of sperm morphology in assisted reproduction’ (Stellenbosch University).
Prof Kruger also currently acts as Adjunct-Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School (Norfolk, Virginia, USA) and serves as treasurer of the South African Society for Reproductive Medicine and Surgery (SASREG). As fertility specialist,

Prof Kruger has:

Published more than 240 publications in peer reviewed journals, in the field of general infertility with an emphasis on male infertility;
Served as editor of fourteen text books;
Published 95 chapters in independent fertility text books;
Reviewed articles for prestigious international journals eg. 'Fertility and sterility', 'Human Reproduction and Gynaecological Investigation'.

In 1995, Prof Kruger was recognised by the British Fertility Society for his contribution in the field of male infertility;
In 2008 Prof Kruger was awarded the Gold Medal for Physical Science Achievement by the South African Academy of Science and Arts (2008); and
In 2013, Prof Kruger was awarded the Havenga Prize for Health Science, by the South African Academy of Science and Arts.

From a personal and clinical perspective, Prof Kruger believes in a holistic approach towards infertility and always tries to assist his patients by solving problems in the simplest and most cost effect way possible.

Prof Igno Siebert

Internationally recognised for his endoscopic surgery with a special interest in PCOS

Prof Siebert, proud partner of Aevitas Fertility Clinic since 2002, is internationally recognised for his expertise as endometriosis specialist and gynaecological endoscopic surgeon.

He also has a special interest in PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Furthermore, Prof Siebert serves as Associated Professor to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tygerberg Academic Hospital.

Prof Siebert graduated with a MBChB (1990) through the University of Stellenbosch and then proceeded with a fellowship (2002 – 2003) through the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Fertility Clinic, Tygerberg Hospital. Prof Siebert’s fellowship to become a fertility specialist was completed under the guidance of Prof Kruger (founder of Aevitas Fertility Clinic).

In addition to this, Prof Siebert completed a PhD (2008) - ‘A study of different clinical and biomechanical parameters in polycystic ovary syndrome affecting ovulation induction outcome and fertility potential’, through Stellenbosch University.

Prof Siebert is highly involved in academia. He lectures MBChB and MMed students; serves as supervisors to MMed students; assists with fellowship training programmes in fertility; as well as, co-organises and presents at several national and international conferences, specifically as endometriosis specialist, on gynaecological endoscopic surgery, which includes outreach educational programmes in Africa.

Prof Siebert has been a contributor to 44 publications as author or co-author. Currently Prof Siebert leads the implementation of ‘The GESEA/Winners Programme’ in South Africa. GESEA/Winners is an international accredited (European Academy) education and training programme on endoscopic surgery and is instrumental to South African Gynaecologists becoming accredited endoscopic surgeons.

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Medical Team

Embryologists

Bailey Kelly (Laboratory Administrator), Greg Tinney-Crook (Lab Director), Kaylin Brunsdon (Embryologist), Emma Ashley (Embryologist), Tara Lawson (Embryologist), Nadine Pfeiffer (Embryologist)