Pharmacy Month Sept 2026


This Pharmacy Month, we celebrate the dedicated pharmacy team at Wits VIDA, whose expertise, commitment, and passion play a vital role in supporting clinical research and participant care. As trusted healthcare professionals, pharmacists are much more than medicine experts. They are partners in health who help ensure participant safety, maintain the highest quality standards, and support the research that advances healthcare for future generations.

At Wits VIDA, our pharmacy team embodies our commitment to “We Make Life Count” by ensuring that every investigational product is managed with precision, every protocol is followed with integrity, and every participant receives the highest standard of care.

Carol Taoushanis

Carol graduated from Rhodes University and began her pharmacy career in hospital pharmacy before spending two years in drug utilisation review. She then served as pharmacy manager at a Medicross pharmacy for ten years before joining Wits VIDA in 2014 as a half-day pharmacist and the unit’s sole pharmacy professional. As Wits VIDA expanded, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, Carol played a key role in developing and growing the pharmacy department into the collaborative team it is today. She is proud to lead a group of professionals who contribute daily to the success of Wits VIDA’s research programmes and participant care.

Aasia Vadee

Aasia began her career in private hospital pharmacy, where she worked for many years before choosing to pursue locum opportunities while raising her family. Over the next 11 years, she gained broad experience across various healthcare settings, including the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU). In 2021, she contributed to the historic Sisonke Study, immunising South African healthcare workers against COVID-19. Aasia joined Wits VIDA in April 2026 and has quickly become a valued member of the pharmacy team, bringing extensive experience and a patient-centred approach to her work.

Nabeela Bhabha

Nabeela began her career in private hospital pharmacy before moving into the public healthcare sector. She later spent four and a half years as a Drug Utilisation Review (DUR) pharmacist at CAMAF Medical Aid before joining Wits VIDA in 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this critical period, she was instrumental in securing scarce medicines, protective equipment, and essential supplies that enabled both Wits VIDA and the hospital to continue important COVID-19 research safely. Nabeela is currently completing her second year of an MSc Med in Clinical Pharmacy, investigating the relationship between malnutrition in children under five years of age and gut microbiome health.

Janke Carswell

Janke graduated from North-West University in 2019 and started her pharmacy career in retail pharmacy before joining Wits VIDA in 2023.She played a key role in establishing the pharmacy services at the FOLA primary healthcare clinic and continues to oversee pharmacy operations at the site. Committed to continuous professional development, Janke is currently pursuing a master’s degree in pharmacy administration and policy regulation through the University of the Western Cape.

Christopher Baloyi

Christopher obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Limpopo in 2013 and went on to complete his Pharmacist Assistant qualification in 2017 while working in community pharmacy. Since joining Wits VIDA in October 2021, Christopher has become an indispensable member of the team. His responsibilities range from stock management and temperature monitoring to supporting clinical trials and troubleshooting IT-related challenges. His versatility and willingness to assist wherever needed make him a valuable contributor to the smooth operation of the pharmacy.

Pamela Corder

Pamela completed her pharmacy internship in community pharmacy before working as a DUR pharmacist for two years. She later returned to retail pharmacy, where she held senior pharmacist and co-management roles, and subsequently gained additional experience through locum work in private hospitals. Pamela joined Wits VIDA in 2021 as a pharmacist and has since progressed to her current role as Clinic Quality Manager. Her strong background in pharmacy and quality systems enables her to support the maintenance of the high standards that underpin Wits VIDA’s clinical research activities.