Renée van der Wiel
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Renée van der Wiel is studying towards a PhD in anthropology, and is a doctoral fellow in the medical humanities programme at the Wits Institute of Social and Economic Research (WISER). Her PhD research investigates doctor-researchers bridging patient care and knowledge making in the context of what is described as a crisis in medical research in South Africa. Renée completed her Master’s degree in anthropology at Wits University in 2013. Her award-winning dissertation analysed women’s experiences of breast cancer treatment at a public hospital in Johannesburg, and her findings challenged significant racial and gendered stereotypes about cancer patients. Previously she completed a BSocSci (Hons) at the University of Cape Town, researching young women egg donors.
Since 2011, Renée has worked at Wits University in a number of roles – sessional lecturer, tutor, mentor, writing consultant and research assistant. In addition, she was a lecturer for the OTS/Duke University Global Health Summer Abroad programme, and worked as a curriculum reviser for Medical Sociology at North-West University. In the past Renée worked as a freelance writer and researcher for educational publishers.