Dr Merusha Naidoo is an epidemiologist with over a decade of academic and clinical research experience, specialising in cardiometabolic health and precision medicine. She holds a PhD in Human Genetics from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her research has centred on epigenetics, specifically examining how diet and lifestyle influence the epigenome and how menopausal status impacts epigenetic patterns associated with cardiometabolic disease risk.

Dr Sumanth Karamchand is a cardiologist now in private practice. He is affiliated with Mediclinic Panorama Hospital, where he cares for inpatients and performs cardiac procedures. He received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) Summa Cum Laude, through the University of Cape Town in 2013, earning the class medal for top final year student in internal medicine, gold medal in pharmacology and a gold medal for overall excellence. Dr Karamchand also holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree (BPharm) Cum Laude. He was the only student to conduct a concurrent Master of Science in Medicine (Clinical Pharmacology) degree at the University of Cape Town whilst doing medicine, which he graduated Cum Laude. He completed his internship at Tygerberg Hospital and served his community service at Khayelitsha District Hospital in the Western Cape. He passed the Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians Part 1 exams in 2020. In 2016, he won the AM Meyers Medal for the FCP (SA) part 1 examination. He then obtained a Masters of Medicine (MMed) degree in Internal Medicine (Cum Laude) from Stellenbosch University and became a member of the College of Physicians of South Africa (FCP SA) in 2021. He attended the premier Fellows-only Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) Fall Course in Miami, Florida in the United States of America in 2023. He completed his cardiology sub-specialist training at Tygerberg Hospital's division of Cardiology in 2024 and is currently completing his Master of Philosophy (Cardiology) degree investigating diagnostic modalities in lupus myocarditis. He has authored and co-authored a number of peer reviewed articles for journals and is passionate about under-and post-graduate teaching and cardio-metabolic research. After completing his cardiology fellowship, Dr Karamchand joined Dr Razeen Gopal at the Panorama Heart Unit where they offer both general cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology (EP) services including complex device therapy. The Centre is known internationally, for its work on cryo-ablation and PFA (electroporation) as single shot technology in the management of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. The centre also serves as a referral point for lead extraction. He has a keen interest in preventative cardiology, interventional cardiology, as well as in cardiac imaging. He is an active member of the South African Heart Association, Heart Failure Society of South Africa and the South African Society of Cardiovascular Intervention, constantly updating his knowledge through conferences and journal clubs.