Soraya Seedat

Professor Soraya Seedat is a leading academic and researcher at the Stellenbosch University Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, serving as the Executive Head of the Department of Psychiatry. Her work focuses on trauma, PTSD, and mental health in vulnerable populations across low- and middle-income countries.

• Executive Head, Department of Psychiatry
• Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Collaborative affiliations: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, South African Medical Research Council

Her research spans neuropsychiatric disorders, cultural psychiatry, and genetic factors in trauma response. Recent studies address HIV-related neurocognitive impairment, trauma-focused therapy outcomes, and psychosocial interventions during pregnancy.

She has secured funding from elite institutions like the Wellcome Trust, National Institutes of Health, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, reflecting her global influence in mental health research. Publications in The Lancet and top-tier journals highlight her contributions to SDG health metrics and PTSD epidemiology.