I am a qualified pharmacist and lecturer in the Division of Pharmacy Practice, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. As an emerging, young scientist, I have a strong interest in South African traditional medicinal plants, particularly their use in treating infectious diseases. My PhD entitled “Traditional medicine use in two public South African hospitals: Prevalence and interactive antimicrobial and toxicity studies for combinations with conventional antimicrobials” aims to provide insights to potentially beneficial (synergistic interactions), and harmful (antagonistic interactions) combinations between traditional and conventional treatments for infectious conditions. Ultimate research goals are geared toward highlighting the importance of integrating traditional medicine with modern healthcare, through an evidence-based, safe integrative medicine approach. Long-term research goals involve influencing health policy development in integrative medicine in South Africa, and expanding knowledge informed by sound scientific evidence, on traditional medicinal plant:conventional antimicrobial combinations. Furthermore, the research aims to inform clinical translation of findings through development of clinical decision-making databases to support healthcare professionals in managing interactions between traditional and conventional antimicrobial therapies and promoting holistic care in infectious disease therapy