Dr Sharlene Parasnath is currently the Head Clinical Unit of the Department of Clinical Haematology and Stem Cell Transplant Unit at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital since October 2015.
She grew up in Durban where she completed her schooling at Dr AD Lazarus Secondary School in 1993. In 1999 she graduated with her MBChB from the Medical University of Southern Africa. She served her internship and community service at Addington Hospital, where her interest in haematology started. She worked as a medical officer in the Department of Internal Medicine at Addington Hospital before taking up a registrar post in Haematopathology at UKZN in April 2002, and on completion of her FCPath Haem (SA) in 2007, joined the IALCH Clinical Haematology unit as a fellow in Clinical Haematology. On obtaining her Certificate in Clinical Haematology in 2010 she stayed on as a Clinical Haematologist in the unit. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Science, looking at the prevalence of acute leukemia in the province of KZN.
She holds a Higher Certificate in Health Services Management from Reagent Business School. She believes that great strides can be made through collaboration and in the philosophy of servant leadership to improve the services.
Her other roles include examiner for the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, current the vice-chairperson of the South African Stem Cell Society, Executive Member of the South African Clinical Haematology Society and non-executive board member of BloodSA.
She has remained committed to improving access to Clinical Haematology services in KZN state sector and making stem cell transplant services accessible to the patients of Kwa-Zulu Natal and is enthusiastic about education and creating awareness amongst both undergraduate and postgraduate students about Haematopathology and Clinical Haematology.
