• What are you most proud of in your career or otherwise?

One of the clinical conditions which became linked to my career path is peripartum cardiomyopathy which I became interested in by chance.  I had help from a young African woman who helped looking after my first daughter when I started working in a hospital in Soweto, South Africa. I noticed how the woman, who had recently given birth, was becoming increasingly short of breath. When I took her to hospital all the local physicians were familiar with her condition – peripartum cardiomyopathy.

My research in this field over the past two decades has helped identify an underlying mechanism (a form of prolactin which exerts a detrimental effect on heart muscle), and a straightforward intervention (withdrawal of breastfeeding in addition to standard heart failure care). I have now expanded my research interests to other cardiac conditions associated with pregnancy.

• What important career challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?

Everyone who is planning a career will have challenges because having a career means competition by nature. It is inevitable that some people will be jealous of your successes. I usually strive for respectful and fair working relationships with my colleagues. I feel it is important to be good in a particular field, but also acknowledge the excellence of my colleagues in other areas.

• What advice would you give your younger self? To be a bit calmer and not to fight every battle with force. Many issues resolve themselves. A very practical approach is to give your competitor recognition for what they are good at, and seek a dialogue rather than to confront. It took me a few years to figure that out. Since then my life has been much more peaceful but I am still successful in my career.

  I am a mother of two very bright, confident and successful daughters who are also very valuable human beings. I was always worried about not having enough time for them, as I worked full time. I think I worried far too much about that fact! However, I also have a wonderful husband- we just shared the responsibilities.