Academic Profile

Professor Liezel Cilliers is a renowned academic and scholar in the discipline of informatics and technology in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Fort Hare. She is an NRF C-rated and a Full Professor in good standing in the Department of Information Systems. Prof. Cilliers specializes in the fields of health informatics and technology in education. Her research endeavors focus on the integration of digital technologies, such as electronic health records, health applications and social media into healthcare systems. Prof. Cilliers has an extensive publication record, with numerous articles in high-impact journals that explore various facets of e-health and health informatics. Her research has significantly contributed to the understanding and implementation of digital health solutions, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery. With over 1, 400 Google Scholar citations; h-index of 20; and i10-index of 33, Prof. Cilliers is a scholar of great note. Throughout her academic career, she is a recipient of numerous research grants from, among others, the National Research Foundation, South African Medical Research Council, and the National Department of Education. Her international collaboration extends to the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University College of Cork in Ireland. Most recently, in 2024, Prof. Cilliers was invited to join the Ethics Committee for Princeton University’s Accelerator Project, whose objectives are to facilitate international research in the online information environment. Prof. Cilliers’ career in academia stretches back to 2012 when she was appointed as lecturer in the Department of Information Systems. She was later promoted through the ranks until reaching the pinnacle of academic ranks as a Full Professor in the Department of Information Systems in 2022. In addition, she has assumed many leadership roles at the University of Fort Hare; among these Head of Department, Deputy Dean: Research, Partnerships and Internationalisation, Acting Dean in the Faculty of Management and Commerce and her current posting as the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. As Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Cilliers provides strategic leadership and guides the academic and research missions in the faculty. Her visionary leadership and academic prowess have positioned the faculty as a leader in health sciences education and research in South Africa. Beyond her research, Prof. Cilliers is a dedicated educator and mentor. She has successfully supervised 17 Masters and 3 Doctoral students to completion, reflecting her commitment to developing the next generation of scholars and professionals. She has also hosted two post-doctoral fellows and have been the guest editor of two special journal editions. Prof. Cilliers’ contributions to health informatics have established her as a key figure in this field, both nationally and internationally. Her work continues to influence and inspire advancements in the integration of technology in health.