The Team
Over the years Blueprint Health has put together a highly specialised team of health experts from various fields of medicine, behavioural health and corporate coaching. The core of this team consists of geneticists, behavioural health specialists, coaches and exercise scientists. Professionals in dietetics and nutrition, genetic counsellors, physicians and occupational therapists are also contracted. All health professionals are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
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Dr Heloïse Avenant, MB ChB – Clinician As managing director of Blueprint Health, Heloïse can live out her passion to offer focused and personalised prevention and health management solutions to individuals and organisational teams. Heloïse has been in private practice for more than 12 years following graduation from Stellenbosch University, where she obtained a B Sc in biochemistry (cum laude) and an MB ChB degree. While spending six years in Canada, she became a licentiate of the medical college. Heloïse serves as a clinical advisor to Gknowmix genetic medical services and is a clinical consultant to dietetic practices. |
Areas of expertise:
Heloïse’s special interest in archaeology, anthropology and evolutionary sciences contributes to her enthusiastic understanding of the adaptations people go through and how they can manage their environment to ensure longevity. Heloïse is married to Pieter, and they have two children – Bea and Wynand. |
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Christina Hiller, MSc – Coach Tina graduated in MSc Coaching and holds an MA degree in sociology and economics with a focus on healthcare and hospital management from the University of Vienna. Tina is a certified, registered medical representative, a practitioner member of CoMenSA (Coaches and Mentors of South Africa) and a guest lecturer at the South African College of Applied Psychology. She has extensive management and coaching experience in the airline, IT, telecommunications and biotech industries, as well as in private practice. |
Areas of expertise:
Tina’s passion is working with people on a one-on-one basis to elicit the very best they can be. She has a talent of truly seeing people’s potential and believing in their capabilities. Her humorous and warm way of coaching is inspiring and makes it easy for her clients to take ownership of their hopes and aspirations. She is a certified ranger for Southern Africa, a keen horse-rider and loves to prepare dinner for her husband, Reinhard, and their twins, Sara and Isak. |
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Dr Kerrin Begg, MB ChB, CMSA – Management consultant Kerrin obtained an MB ChB at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 1994, followed by a Diploma in Child Health (1996) and a Diploma in Obstetrics (1997). She then completed her medical specialisation, obtaining the Fellowship in Public Health Medicine (CMSA) in 2002. Kerrin is a trained depth facilitator, an accredited Thomas PPA practitioner, and is certified in The Leadership Circle Profile™. After a brief stint in clinical practice, she moved into the field of management, gaining widespread experience in hospital and health services management. |
| In the public sector, she managed an 80-bed district hospital, improving efficiencies and performance while commissioning revenue generation projects and implementing district programmes for the prevention of HIV/Aids. In the private sector, Kerrin managed a 103-bed tertiary care hospital in the JSE-listed Netcare group.Having first improved service levels at this troubled hospital, she developed and executed a joint venture strategy to relocate and amalgamate its clinical services to a private academic hospital. Subsequently, Kerrin was interim manager and director of the joint venture. She then managed a 247 licensed-bed tertiary care unit, enabling a phenomenal 17,5% growth in activity over a 12-month period.
In the non-government sector, Kerrin is a trustee of an FBO (fixed base operator) for HIV/Aids education and care (including hospice) and a director and chairperson of The Sunflower Fund – a non-profit organisation that raises awareness and does fundraising for the SA Bone Marrow Registry. As the national chairperson of the Junior Doctors’ Association of SA, she served on the task group to examine the restructuring of the Medical Association of South Africa (MASA). This resulted in the transition to a new organisation, SAMA (South African Medical Association), of which she was a trustee. Areas of expertise:
Kerrin is married and has four children. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hiking and dabbling in photography. |
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Prof Maritha Kotze Prof Maritha Kotze is the founder and director of Gknowmix, a healthcare company that developed a business process for integration of clinical assessments, laboratory analysis and reporting through a web-based genetic testing service delivery system. She maintains close links with academia through an appointment as senior lector and professor at the University of Stellenbosch, promoting genome research innovation among students, scientists and clinicians. Her publications include more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and invited book chapters. Maritha has been an invited speaker at numerous national and international scientific meetings and is a regular presenter and facilitator of CPD accredited lectures. |
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Petrus Janse van Rensburg – Exercise scientist
Petrus completed his BSc in Human Movement Studies in 1997 at Stellenbosch University, followed by an honours degree in Sport Science. In 1999 he obtained a BA in Biokinetics from the University of Pretoria and completed an internship at the Advanced Health Centrum in Pretoria in 2000, followed by a full-time position as biokineticist. After a short stay in Oudtshoorn, he established himself as a full-time exercise specialist at the Point Virgin Active club in Cape Town. He has a varied client base and focuses on individualised and personalised fitness programmes, often accompanying his clients abroad to ensure a sustained supportive environment. |
He furthered his training through several courses in sport-related fields, including injury prevention, sport massage, water aerobics and rehabilitation.Areas of expertise:
Petrus enjoys the South African outdoors, as it offers ample opportunities for golf and other outdoor activities. He loves team sports and the adrenalin rush of extreme sport. On a more intellectual level, he enjoys following the movements of the stock markets. |
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Johannes van Rensburg – Sport scientist
After obtaining a BSc in Human Movement Studies in 1997, Johannes completed an honours degree in Sport Science in 1998 and a BA (HMS) honours in Biokinetics at the University of Pretoria. He has done extensive training in providing services to athletes needing specialised training programmes, people with diseases, such as diabetes, and disabled people. Through an affiliation with Virgin Active gyms, he gained experience in the prescription of fitness and conditioning programmes for sport participants, as well as the rehabilitation of injuries, in particular back and other orthopaedic injuries. Johannes has a special interest in chronic disease management and completed several courses in diabetes and exercise training. |
These individuals benefit at large by personalised training programmes that that dramatically improve disease management. As part of the doctor and dietician team, the biokineticist’s contribution ensures that all the information obtained is accurately translated into constructive interventions.Areas of expertise:
Johannes believes in living life to the fullest. He was born and raised on a farm in the Eastern Cape and has a passion for nature. His biggest passion is to positively influence people of all walks of life. He is adventurous and open to new ideas. He loves sport and is always keen on a game of golf or squash. |
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Debbie Stopforth Debbie is the founder and Managing Director of Lifestyle Management Consultants (LMC). Debbie graduated with a degree in Primary Education at Wits University, majoring in Physical Science. She then completed her IMM Marketing and worked as a product manager for a Pharmaceutical company focusing on Insulin Dependent Diabetics. Having a passion for diet and exercise in addition to her interest in diabetics, she went on to complete her Nutrition Diploma – passing with honours. |
| Debbie decided to combine her skills and started LMC, with the view of sharing her knowledge with the corporate environment. She has worked extensively in the Call Centre environment and understands the pressures that staff and management are under. The focus of the LMC programme is to introduce practical, workable and easy-to-implement ideas about diet, stress and exercise in the workplace. These new skills invigorate a workforce and help to introduce a positive energy, which contributes to a more productive environment.
The LMC programmes are adapted to each unique environment. They incorporate ideas on how to improve nutrition at the workplace; effective exercises that you can do in your work environment and at your desk as well as stress release methods, posture correction and easy ways to make workstations ergonomically correct. Time management and work-life-balance are also very popular and noteworthy topics. Debbie has a love for people and a drive to impart her wealth of knowledge and energy. She thrives on seeing positive change within people and environments. Her methods are simple and easy-to-implement but proven to be highly effective, especially in call centre environments. |
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