Prof. Richard Hift

Prof. Richard Hift is a physician, academic, and researcher specializing in internal medicine, hepatology, and porphyria, with a substantial career in medical education and clinical research. He trained in medicine at the University of Cape Town, later specializing in internal medicine, and completed a research fellowship at the MRC/UCT Liver Research Centre. His subsequent work led to an MMed in Medicine and a PhD.

He joined the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in 2007 as Head of the Department of Medicine and subsequently served as Dean of the School of Clinical Medicine from 2012 to 2016. He has also served as Chair of the South African Committee of Medical Deans.

His clinical and research interests include hepatology, porphyria, internal medicine, medical research methodology, biostatistics, and research capacity development. He has also been closely involved in postgraduate medical education and training researchers and clinicians in scientific methodology.