Koleka Mlisana

Patience Mlisana Koleka is a South African researcher and professor of medical microbiology at University of Kwazulu-Natal. She currently serves as the chief executive officer of the National Health Laboratory Service(NHLS).

Background Patience Mlisana Koleka was born in East London in South Africa, but she had a major part of her growing up in Mthatha, in the Eastern Cape province. Mlisana holds an MBChB, MMedPath (Micro) and a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Career Patience Mlisana Koleka is a microbiologist, Professor and Head of both the Medical Microbiology Department at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) and National Health Laboratory Services. She also held the position of executive manager of academic affairs, research, and quality assurance at the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) since July 2018.