Training In Family Medicine
After completing her MBBS in India, Dr Hoosain trained as a registrar in family medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand from 1994 to 1996, where she obtained her Master of Family Medicine. She is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of South Africa, FCFP (SA), and a Member of the Faculty of General Practitioners, MFGP (SA), both awarded by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. She held medical officer and registrar posts between 1986 and 1999, then worked as a family physician at Dobsonville Medical and Dental Surgery from 1999 to 2007. Since 2008, she has been in private family practice in Kenilworth, Cape Town.
Family medicine asks a doctor to keep the whole picture in view. A new symptom is read against your history, and a treatment plan has to fit the way you actually live. That thinking runs through her family physician consultations, whether the visit is for a sudden illness or a routine check.
A Background In Aviation Medicine
From 1997 to 1999, Dr Hoosain trained as a registrar in aviation medicine at the University of Pretoria and went on to complete a BSc (Hons) in Aerospace Medicine. She has been a designated Aviation Medical Examiner with the South African Civil Aviation Authority since 1999 and holds a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner designation (MS201).
Aviation medicine looks closely at how the body copes with the demands of flight, such as reduced oxygen at altitude and the fatigue that builds over long duty periods. That training still shapes her general practice, particularly when a patient's health has to be considered alongside the demands of their job. Although the practice has shifted its focus towards GP services, aviation medical examinations remain an active part of her work.
Experience In Palliative Care
Dr Hoosain holds a Diploma in Palliative Medicine from the University of Cape Town. Between 2019 and 2023, she worked as a palliative medicine practitioner at St Luke's Hospice in Cape Town. That work involved managing pain and other difficult symptoms, as well as long, honest conversations with patients and their families about what lay ahead.
Today she offers palliative medicine to patients who are living with serious illness and would like support from a doctor close to home. She has also completed a Travel Medicine Certificate of Competence, which supports the pre-travel consultations offered at the practice.
How Do These Disciplines Fit Together?
Family medicine and aviation medicine can look like separate fields, and palliative care may seem further removed again. Yet they share a practical question: how does a person's health affect the life they need to lead? For a pilot, that might mean whether a new diagnosis affects their certificate. For someone living with advanced illness, it might mean staying comfortable at home for as long as possible. Working across these areas means Dr Hoosain regularly considers health in the context of a person's work and family.
Career Timeline
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Family Physician and Aviation Medical Examiner in private practice, Kenilworth
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Senior Designated Aviation Medical Examiner, SACAA
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Palliative Medicine Practitioner, St Luke's Hospice, Cape Town
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Family Medicine Physician, Dobsonville Medical and Dental Surgery
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Registrar in Aviation Medicine, University of Pretoria
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Registrar in Family Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand
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Medical officer and registrar posts
Professional Memberships
Dr Hoosain is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). She is a member of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) and the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), and she is also affiliated with the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF).
Outside The Consulting Room
Away from the practice, Dr Hoosain enjoys hiking and travelling, and she keeps up regular training at the gym. She is also a keen reader.