Inspired by her brother’s recovery from leukaemia, Professor Candice Hendricks is helping bring life-changing stem cell treatment to more South African children.
Pretoria, South Africa (20 October 2026) – For Professor Candice Hendricks, saving lives is more than a career. It is personal. Thirteen years ago, her brother underwent a bone marrow stem cell transplant after being diagnosed with leukaemia. Today he remains in remission. That experience shaped her remarkable career dedicated to giving children facing serious illnesses the same opportunity for treatment, recovery, and a future filled with possibility.
Now, years of research, international training and dedication are coming together in a significant milestone for South African healthcare. On the 2nd of November, a specialised paediatric haematology service will open at Netcare Pretoria East Hospital, including a dedicated bone marrow stem cell transplant facility and a paediatric isolation facility.
Working alongside Dr David Brittain and the team at Alberts Cellular Therapy, Prof Hendricks will bring dedicated paediatric expertise to the hospital’s established transplant service, helping expand access to potentially life-saving treatment.
“This dedicated paediatric facility represents the opportunity to care for more children through a complex course of treatment. Building the service means bringing together the right expertise and support, with the child and their family at the centre of every decision,” she says.
At 42, Prof Hendricks has already built an extraordinary career. Following in her father’s footsteps, she qualified as a doctor in 2006 before specialising in paediatrics and paediatric clinical haematology. She completed her PhD in medical immunology at the University of Pretoria in 2024, has co-authored more than 20 scientific papers and has trained at specialist medical centres in Italy, India and the United Kingdom.
“My purpose in training abroad was always to bring that knowledge home. Learning from experienced teams helped me understand what it takes to build a dedicated children’s transplant service and how we could apply those lessons in South Africa,” she explains.
South Africa has a substantial need for paediatric stem cell transplants but access remains limited. Families face challenges ranging from a shortage of suitable donors and specialised facilities to financial difficulties and long travel distances. The new facility will help address some of these barriers by expanding the country’s capacity to provide this highly specialised care.
“Behind every discussion about access is a child and a family waiting for help. A treatment may exist, but that means little to a family who cannot reach it,” Prof Hendricks says.
Her commitment to children also extends beyond the hospital ward. She co-founded Lusandi Medical Animations Studio, a non-profit initiative that uses animation in multiple South African languages to help children and their caregivers understand complex medical conditions and treatments.
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“There is still so much to do, but opening this facility is an important step. My hope is that the work we do here will help more children receive the treatment they need and give more families the chance to look towards the future,” she concludes.
Behind every medical breakthrough is a person, a family and a future worth fighting for. And thanks to Professor Candice Hendricks and the team bringing this facility to life, more South African children may get the chance to grow up, celebrate birthdays, chase dreams and make beautiful memories.
And that, we believe, is an incredibly good thing!
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