Makhotso Merriam Ralehike | Nursing and Health Professions | Innovative Research Award

Posted on by Phenomenological Research

Innovative Research Award

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike – University of Pretoria, South Africa

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike
Affiliation University of Pretoria
Country South Africa
ORCID 0009-0009-2006-366X
Document 1
Subject Area Nursing and Health Professions
Event International Phenomenological Research Awards

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike is a South African nursing professional, occupational health practitioner, nurse educator, and bioethics specialist affiliated with the University of Pretoria. Her academic and professional activities focus on occupational health, nursing ethics, healthcare quality, rural health systems, patient safety, and evidence-based nursing practice. Through clinical service, educational leadership, and emerging scholarly contributions, she has developed expertise relevant to contemporary healthcare challenges and nursing policy development.[1]

Abstract

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike has developed a multidisciplinary professional profile integrating nursing practice, occupational health, healthcare ethics, education, and rural healthcare research. Her work addresses healthcare quality, workforce wellbeing, patient safety, and ethical challenges within resource-constrained environments. Her published research on nurses’ experiences in water-scarce healthcare clinics contributes to understanding healthcare delivery challenges in South Africa and supports evidence-informed policy and professional practice improvements.[2]

Keywords

Nursing Science, Occupational Health Nursing, Bioethics, Rural Healthcare, Healthcare Quality, Patient Safety, Nursing Education, Evidence-Based Practice, Health Policy, Clinical Leadership.

Introduction

The nursing profession increasingly requires practitioners who combine clinical expertise with ethical leadership, occupational health knowledge, educational competence, and research engagement. Ralehike’s professional development reflects this interdisciplinary approach through service in critical care, occupational health, nursing education, and healthcare management. Her academic progression includes advanced qualifications in nursing education, labour law, disaster management, HIV and TB management, occupational health nursing, and bioethics, supporting a broad perspective on healthcare systems and workforce development.[1][2]

Research Profile

As a PhD candidate in Nursing Science at the University of Pretoria, Makhotso Merriam Ralehike focuses on nursing ethics, occupational health, healthcare quality, rural health systems, and patient-centered care. Her academic interests emphasize ethical responsibilities within healthcare environments, particularly where infrastructure limitations influence professional practice and patient outcomes. Her educational background provides a foundation for examining healthcare challenges through clinical, legal, ethical, and organizational perspectives.[1]

Research Contributions

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike’s principal scholarly contribution investigates the lived experiences of nurses working in healthcare clinics affected by water scarcity within the Maluti-A-Phofung district of South Africa. The study explores how environmental and infrastructural limitations affect healthcare delivery, professional obligations, and patient care standards. By documenting frontline nursing experiences, the research contributes evidence relevant to healthcare planning, nursing regulation, occupational wellbeing, and service quality improvement initiatives.[2]

Publications

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike’s most significant publication examines nurses’ lived experiences within healthcare clinics experiencing water scarcity in South Africa’s Free State Province. The study highlights ethical responsibilities, operational challenges, healthcare quality concerns, and workforce resilience in resource-constrained settings while providing evidence relevant to nursing policy, occupational health, healthcare infrastructure planning, and patient safety improvements across underserved communities.[2]

Research Impact

The practical relevance of Ralehike’s research lies in its focus on real-world healthcare challenges affecting nurses and patients in rural and resource-limited environments. Her work contributes to broader discussions concerning healthcare equity, workplace conditions, ethical accountability, and sustainable healthcare delivery. Such evidence supports policymakers, healthcare managers, educators, and practitioners seeking improvements in healthcare infrastructure and service provision.[2]

Award Suitability

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike demonstrates attributes aligned with recognition under the International Phenomenological Research Awards through her investigation of lived professional experiences in healthcare settings. Her interdisciplinary expertise spanning nursing science, occupational health, ethics, and education supports research that addresses human experiences within complex healthcare environments. The phenomenological orientation of her published work and its relevance to healthcare practice, policy, and professional wellbeing provide a strong basis for consideration within research recognition initiatives.[2]

Conclusion

Makhotso Merriam Ralehike represents an emerging nursing scholar whose professional experience, advanced academic preparation, and healthcare research collectively contribute to nursing science and occupational health practice. Her focus on ethical healthcare delivery and lived experiences within resource-constrained clinical environments supports ongoing efforts to improve healthcare quality, workforce wellbeing, and evidence-based policy development in South Africa.[1][2]

References

  1. ORCID. (n.d.). Makhotso Merriam Ralehike – ORCID Profile. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2006-366X
  2. Ralehike, M.M., Mulaudzi, M.F., Sepeng, N.V., & Nyandeni, S. (2026). Lived experience of nurses working in healthcare clinics that are experiencing water scarcity, in Maluti-A-Phofung district, Free State Province, South Africa. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2026.101114

Cristina Maria Del Prete | Medicine and Dentistry | Women Researcher Award

Posted on by Phenomenological Research

Dr. Cristina Maria Del Prete | Medicine and Dentistry | Women Researcher Award 

Rehabilitation Department Chair at Local Health Authority Italy

Dr. Cristina Maria Del Prete is a recognized professional in the field of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, known for her commitment to advancing innovative healthcare models, interdisciplinary rehabilitation practices, and measurable improvements in patient quality of life. She completed comprehensive medical education and specialized training in rehabilitation medicine, followed by multiple advanced executive and managerial qualifications focused on healthcare systems, organizational leadership, digital transformation, and strategic management. Her education laid a strong foundation for a career that has spanned clinical practice, healthcare administration, academic teaching, and national health policy participation. Over the years, she has held progressive leadership roles within major public healthcare structures, directing rehabilitation departments, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and overseeing complex service networks involving hospital- and community-based rehabilitation centers. Her responsibilities have included workforce management, budget oversight, strengthening patient-care pathways, improving standards of disability support, and enhancing regional service delivery in alignment with evolving healthcare regulations. She has also actively contributed to national and regional scientific boards, steering committees, and professional societies focused on improving spasticity management, supporting patients with neurological conditions, addressing musculoskeletal pain, and advancing gender-inclusive perspectives within modern healthcare. Her research output reflects a strong blend of clinical relevance and academic rigor, focusing on post-stroke rehabilitation, botulinum toxin interventions in neuromotor disorders, gait analysis, scoliosis management, family coping mechanisms in the context of disability, and the psychological dynamics influencing care outcomes. Her published studies in international peer-reviewed journals demonstrate a dedication to evidence-based rehabilitation, resulting in 63 citations from 55 documents, 7 published scientific works, and an h-index of 4. She has also contributed extensively to academic progress through university teaching appointments across multiple medical programs, where she has trained students in foundational and advanced principles of rehabilitation medicine. International clinical training and professional development programs have further enhanced her expertise and broadened her exposure to advanced rehabilitative technologies, patient-centered methodologies, and global best practices. Throughout her career, she has remained consistently committed to improving health system performance, innovating care delivery frameworks, and conducting research that informs more efficient, equitable, and clinically effective rehabilitation services. Her professional journey reflects a continuous dedication to advancing healthcare quality, supporting both patients and practitioners, and strengthening the scientific foundations of modern rehabilitation.

Profile: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications:

Del Prete, C. M. (2025). Determinants of sibling relationships in the context of mental disorders. PLoS One.

Del Prete, C. M. (2025). Siblings of persons with disabilities: A systematic integrative review of the empirical literature. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review.

Del Prete, C. M. (2023). Parentification, distress, and relationships with parents as factors shaping relationships in families with disability. Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Del Prete, C. M. (2022). An observational cross-sectional study of gender and disability as determinants of person-centered medicine in botulinum neurotoxin treatment of upper motoneuron syndrome. Toxins.

Del Prete, C. M. (2022). Brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A rehabilitative point of view. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Del Prete, C. M. (2021). Early botulinum toxin type A injection for post-stroke spasticity: A longitudinal cohort study. Toxins.

Del Prete, C. M. (2022). Efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage and biocompatible electrical neurostimulation in calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Del Prete, C. M. (2004). Conservative rehabilitative treatment of facial nerve injuries: A critical literature review. Europa Medicophysica.

Del Prete, C. M. (2002). Outcome research in adults with neurological disability. Europa Medicophysica.

Del Prete, C. M. (2001). Therapeutic water exercise in patients with hip arthroplasty. Europa Medicophysica.