Alta Schutte

"From a young age I was fascinated with biology and health sciences, and originally wanted to study medicine. When funding for my studies became an issue, I decided to study a general BSc degree with Human Physiology as my major. I have never looked back and ended up working in clinical population-based studies, general epidemiology and public health with a specific focus on hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease. By choosing this direction of work I am not limited to helping just one patient at a time, but instead I am able to contribute towards treating entire populations at a given time."

"When people think of Africa, they mainly focus on the significant burden of infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. The health systems are often crippled by the high cost in treating these conditions."

"...the challenging circumstances in low resource settings are often overlooked by scientists in affluent countries."

"I was confronted with heart disease very early on. My father only knew his father for two years, and at six I thought I was farewelling my 38-year-old father at his hospital bed. Fortunately, medicine pulled him through in the early eighties."

"By improving healthcare setting conditions, including access to quality medications, better training of staff and team-based care, we can take significant strides forward."

"Importantly, diversity in a research team brings much creativity, innovation and insights."

"Blood pressure control rates have stagnated over the past decades. A reform in blood pressure management is needed, and I welcome all to get in touch and join forces to make this happen."

"I am very interested in novel technologies to monitor blood pressure using cloud-based systems and low-energy solutions that could be used in areas without electricity."

".These developments need to be evaluated, consolidated and implemented and is likely to substantially influence mobile healthcare in the decades to come."