HIV research leads to PhD for former Port Shepstone local

Dr Tamlyn Carmin Seunanden, aka ‘Tam’ formerly from Port Shepstone has reason to celebrate – she recently graduated with a PhD in public health from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

While a PhD typically takes upwards of five years to complete, Suenanden completed it in three. When asked by her colleagues about how she managed the accelerated pace, her answer is simple ‘faith’.

At her graduation ceremony in September 2025, she credited her success to the foundation laid by her family.
Her research tackled HIV in children as part of an international clinical trial exploring models of care for antiretroviral therapy in young people.

Seunanden’s path to the ‘apex qualification’ was not without hurdles. After being awarded a PhD Research Fellowship from the Africa Health Research Institute, she balanced the roles of Project Manager, Researcher, and Regulatory Officer while pursuing her PhD full-time in 2022.

“I had to overcome many challenges, including breaking stereotypes about being a daughter of a person with disabilities and what women in science can achieve. I had to move from surviving to thriving after healing from gender-based violence prior to being a PhD scholar. Then at PhD-onset, I was met with the task of navigating grief from the loss of my late family members.”

She noted that while she felt the absence of her grandmothers, uncles and cousin Wallace Daniels (Wally), she was bolstered by the presence of her parents.

“My parents are remarkable role models,” she said. “My father Jerry Seunanden has physical disabilities and is a beacon of hope to communities, is qualified in business and electrical contracting, and my mother Valerie John is a dedicated teacher helping children with learning barriers.”

Suenanden is now looking towards an exciting future in research leadership and management.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram