Academic Profile

Dr. Nonceba Mercy Vellem is a senior lecturer and scholar within the discipline of Nursing and Public Health, specializing in Midwifery, at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Fort Hare. Her academic expertise focuses on midwifery care with particular emphasis on the promotion of healthy lifestyles among women affected by prediabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Dr. Vellem commenced her academic career at the University of Fort Hare in 2010 as a junior lecturer and progressed to senior lecturer status in 2019. In the same year, she served as Head of the Nursing Department. She has been actively engaged in teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, supervising ten master’s and three doctoral candidates. Her research contributions have been recognized through competitive grants awarded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). Dr. Vellem has also fostered international academic collaborations with institutions including Elizabeth City State University (USA), and universities in Belgium and Sweden. Committed to community service, her work advocates for the integration of planned physical activity and dietary modifications to support both low- and high-risk pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Her ongoing research endeavors contribute significantly to improving maternal health outcomes in the region.