A University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) medical graduate who was born in Durban has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List.

The Witness reports that Dr Rondhir (Ron) Jithoo, originally from Reservoir Hills in Durban and now based in Melbourne in Australia, received the honour in recognition of more than two decades of service in neurosurgery and public health.

For Jithoo, the experience has been “deeply humbling”.

“I see the recognition not as an individual achievement, but as a reflection of the teams I have worked with, the patients who entrusted me with their care, and the opportunities provided by Australia’s public health system,” he says.

As a UKZN graduate and migrant clinician, this honour holds particular significance.

Career in neurosurgery

Jithoo has practised neurosurgery for over 25 years in tertiary public hospitals and private practice, specialising in complex cranial surgery and neurotrauma.

“Neurosurgery demands precision, accountability, and clarity under pressure,” he says.

He was drawn to the speciality because it combines deep anatomical knowledge with decisive action at moments that profoundly alter patients’ lives.

He described severe neurotrauma cases as particularly impactful, noting that they require both technical skill and strong teamwork.

One patient, he said, recovered after bilateral craniotomies for traumatic brain injury and later returned to academic work, started a family and became a patient advocate.

Strong academic roots

Jithoo comes from a family with a long academic and medical history. His late father, Dr Jaychand Jithoo, was a medical intern at the University of Natal in 1968.

Jithoo completed postgraduate surgical and neurosurgical training in Durban and Melbourne before emigrating to Australia in 2002.

His late mother, Professor Sabita Goordeen, obtained her Master’s degree in Anthropology in 1965, and his sister, Dr Anamika Jithoo, earned her MBChB in 1997.

He is currently a consultant neurosurgeon at The Alfred Hospital, a major tertiary referral and trauma centre in Australia.

He also works in private practice, provides services at Royal Darwin Hospital in remote Australia, and supports surgical outreach and teaching programmes in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

UKZN’s impact

Reflecting on his training, Jithoo credited UKZN with shaping his clinical judgement and resilience.

“The intensity of training, strong peer relationships, and breadth of pathology developed my clinical judgement and resilience – foundations that have endured throughout my career.”

He also recalled serving on the Medical Students’ Representative Council and being detained during the State of Emergency in 1989.

“UKZN and South Africa remain integral to my professional identity,” he says.

Dr Basil Enicker, Head of UKZN’s Discipline of Neurosurgery, said: “Heartfelt congratulations to Dr Rondhir Jithoo for this outstanding achievement.”

He added that the honour reflected Jithoo’s unwavering commitment to excellence, service, advocacy, and leadership in the field of neurosurgery.

“His career continues to inspire colleagues and patients alike, and we are proud to count him among our distinguished alumni.”

Looking ahead, Jithoo said he remains focused on mentoring, education and strengthening health systems, particularly in neurotrauma and remote service delivery.

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