Rik De Decker, MSc (cum laude), MBChB, DCH

JAD profile

Affiliation(s): 

University of Cape Town; Red Cross Children's Hospital

Lab URL: 

https://cathchat.co.za

ORCID URL: 

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3968-8805

Areas of Interest: 

Paediatric Cardiology, AD: Alzheimer Disease, Congenital Heart Disease, Clinical Genetics

Biography & Research: 

Trained as a Zoologist, obtaining MSc (with distinction) during 3rd year MBChB in 1986, at UCT. Specialised in General Paediatrics, Paediatric Cardiology and Clinical Genetics, resulting in double subspecialisation in Paediatric Cardiology and Clinical Genetics. 2003 - 2005: Consultant Clinical Geneticist in the Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town 2006 – present: Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Memorial Hospital, and Western Cape Paediatric Cardiology Service, Cape Town, in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Cape Town. 2014: Development and initiation of the CATHCHAT platform (https://cathchat.co.za ), followed by several interventional catheterisation workshops, broadcast to international audiences - to obtain expert advice and input. 2014: Originator and developer of 13 Postgraduate Diplomas in Paediatrics to teach essential subspecialist skills to doctors in rural areas that are remote from subspecialist paediatric care. 2015: Appointed Director of the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital 2016: Promoted (ad hominem) to Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT Member of the Mountain Club of South Africa, previous co-convener of Mountain Rescue (Cape Town Section), representing MCSA Mountain Rescue South on ICAR MedCom (https://icar-med.com). Individual member of ISfTeH - International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth