Dr Wendy Jane Duncan
Dr Wendy Jane Duncan

Dr Wendy Jane Duncan is a specialist child and adolescent psychiatrist based at the Oxford Healthcare Centre, Saxonwold.

Dr Duncan’s practice intends to address the needs of children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders, emotional and behavioural difficulties, while supporting and guiding parents and families in this process.

Her qualifications include an MBBCh(Wits), FCPsych(SA) and Cert Child Psych (SA). She is currently completing her MMed in Psychiatry.

Dr Duncan’s medical and psychiatric background is coupled with a holistic psychosocial approach to mental health difficulties. Problems within the child and family are assessed thoroughly and addressed broadly; with substantial engagement and co-consultation with other professionals working in the field, including psychologists (clinical, counselling and educational), occupational therapists, speech therapists, remedial therapists and social workers.

Experience

Wendy graduated with her MBBCh from University of Witwaterand in 1996. During her time at Wits Medical School she served on the Medical Students’ Council, was involved with and chaired the student-run Muldersdrift Health Development Programme. She also served as student representative on several Health Faculty committees.

After having qualified Wendy did her medical and surgical internship at the Hillbrow Hospital in Johannesburg. In 1998 she commenced her career in psychiatry with a medical officer post at Tara Hospital and later pursued her training through the Department of Psychiatry within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Witwatersrand. This involved training in facilities such as Sterkfontein Hospital, Tara Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital; as well as several community-based mental health clinics across Johannesburg and the surrounds.

Once qualified as a psychiatrist Wendy joined the psychiatry department at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital as a consultant psychiatrist in 2002. Here she ran an acute adult female ward. She was involved in teaching undergraduate medical, nursing and occupational therapy students as well postgraduate registrar psychiatric training. At this time she served as an examiner for the College of Psychiatry in the Part I examination.

Wendy joined the team of psychiatrists and therapists at the Talisman Foundation, a community-based residential facility for the rehabilitation of people with serious psychiatric mental illness on a part-time basis. She remained affiliated with the Talisman Foundation until 2011, and during this time served two terms as an elected Board Member.

From 2004 Wendy worked in the West London Mental Health Trust. After a stint at the Young Offenders’ Institute at Feltham, she moved within the Trust to the Ealing Hospital, and here gained experience in low- and medium-secure forensic psychiatric rehabilitation wards. Eventually moving on to work as a consultant within the Trust in acute women’s mental health and running a psychiatric intensive care unit.

On her return to South Africa in 2006, Wendy took up a post as a senior specialist within the Department of Psychiatry at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Again running an acute female psychiatric ward. Her commitments to undergraduate and postgraduate education and training increased, and she was made Chair of the Division of Psychiatry’s Undergraduate Teaching Committee in 2009. In addition she served on the Postgraduate Teaching Committee.

During the course of her time in women’s mental health and while managing women with serious psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, Wendy became increasingly concerned about the plight of their children and families. The more time spent in this arena was met with the realization that many mental health difficulties have their routes in childhood, within the family and arising as a result of deficiencies in social infrastructure.

In 2007 Wendy commenced her sub-specialist training in child and adolescent psychiatry. She obtained her qualification in 2009; and had during the period of specialization obtained experience within the child, adolescent and family units at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Tara Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. Her training included training in play therapy and family therapy, as well as the administration of the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales.

She worked full-time in the capacity of a senior specialist in child psychiatry in the Child, Adolescent and Family Unit (CAFU) at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital until her recent move into the private sector.

She also worked for several years as a part-time psychiatrist for the Life Esedimeni Baneng Care Centre; a large residential facility for severe and profoundly intellectually handicapped children and youth.

In 2012 Wendy opened a small part-time private practice at Akeso Clinic in Parktown. Her affiliation with the Clinic persists and she consults with patients who are admitted to the Young Adults’ Programme (YAP), i.e. youth between the ages of 13 and 18 years of age.

In September 2013 Wendy commenced full-time private practice at the Village Medical Centre in Parktown North. Wendy has joined the Oxford Health team in 2015.

Currently Wendy is employed as a consultant on a part-time basis by Anova Health Institute to assist in the development of training materials for health professionals dealing with children and adolescents living with HIV.

Young Adults Programme (YAP) at Akeso Clinic Parktown

Admission to the Young Adults Programme (YAP) at Akeso Clinic Parktown is an option for adolescents (13 to 18 years) who are in crisis:

These young patients would be managed by Dr Duncan with the assistance of members of the in-house COPE (Centre of Psychological Excellence Team).

www.akeso.co.za

Adolescents in crisis

  • Suicidal ideation or behaviour
  • Deliberate self-harm (cutting, scarification)
  • Depression and severe anxiety
  • Substance misuse
  • Severe family relational difficulties
  • Eating Disorders
  • Adolescent onset bipolar
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Difficulties with affect regulation after suicidal ideation