Fellows
Thandeka Smith
SANTHE PhD Fellow
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN),
Durban, South Africa
Thandeka Smith is a PhD candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa, where she also completed her Master of Medical Science in 2022. Her master’s work focused on how young people living with HIV develop identity and agency.
Her current doctoral research examines the intersections of mental health, HIV, and trauma within socially adverse settings in KwaZulu-Natal. Her work aims to deepen understanding of how psychosocial factors shape the lived experiences and wellbeing of people living with HIV, particularly in high-burden communities.