As Executive Head of the Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine and currently Head of two of its divisions, the Division of Movement Science and Exercise Therapy and the Division of Sport Science, Associate Professor Karen Welman brings a deeply humane and collaborative approach to leadership.
“For me, there's nothing more meaningful than walking alongside someone as they grow into who they can be," she says, “and my role is to help build systems that support people – whether they are students, staff or communities – so they can thrive."
Welman has a clear vision for the Department going forward: “I would like for us to empower individuals and communities to achieve optimal health, performance and wellbeing through evidence-based physical activity interventions."
The clinical and physical activity promotion services offered by the Department's three divisions play an important role in achieving this objective and she intends to grow the influence of these initiatives through collaborating with others.
To bring her vision to life, the Department is deeply committed to integrating research, teaching and service as a powerful force for positive change. “Most of what we do is evidence-based, therefore research is a very strong driving force in the Department," she explains.
“And then we bring all that back into the classroom and to communities. For me, they are not different silos: research, teaching and service speak to one another. I believe you will have more impact if you integrate all these components."
Academic journey
Her own academic journey began at Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU), where she completed her BSc Honours in Biokinetics, followed by a Master's and PhD in Sport Science, specialising in exercise physiology.
In 2007, she joined SU's then Department of Sport Science as a part-time assistant lecturer and exercise physiologist before being appointed as a full-time lecturer in 2010. “I began lecturing in motor control and motor learning," she recalls. “This really deepened my interest in movement neuroscience and shaped my academic direction."
In 2011, she started The Movement Laboratory at the Department to support research and care in this area. “I predominantly focus on how exercise can change the nervous system, which is why I work a lot with people who have neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and dementia. I am interested in how we can use movement not only as therapy, but also as a window into what is happening in the nervous system," says Welman.
She explains that her own research integrates basic sciences into practical applications. “I look not only at exercise and neuroplasticity – the intervention tool to change the nervous system – but also at potential physical biomarkers. I want to identify physical activities or movements that give us insight into what's going on in the brain and the rest of the nervous system."
Community projects
In addition to teaching and research, Welman participates in various community projects. “I like to put initiatives in action," she points out. “I don't want to be all talk and not deliver anything."
Welman established her first community engagement, Let's Move, in 2014. This initiative targets neurological and movement disorders, and aims to create lasting educational platforms and exercise groups.
In 2015, she introduced community service rotations into the Biokinetics programme at SU, making it one of the first Biokinetics programmes in the country to offer structured, community-based learning opportunities. “We are not just delivering services," she says. “Working together, we are helping people see what is possible through movement and supporting them."
Her next multidisciplinary collaboration initiative was the Paediatric Exercise Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, established in 2021, which provides physical activity education and exercise therapy to children with rheumatological, immunological and neurological conditions.
The clinic has since expanded to include children with pulmonary conditions, broadening its reach and impact. As the first of its kind, the clinic marked a significant step in bringing Biokinetics into the public health space, creating a model for integrated care in a government hospital setting.
“We also have a Biokinetics Clinic, which is more for adults," Welman adds. “It's something that we are piloting this year, so it is very new. It started as a collaboration with Emergency Medicine and looks at non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and obesity. We are looking at the impact that exercise can have as a benefit for people with chronic diseases."
Another collaborative engagement she is part of is Cancer-Fit, which was launched last year. “We provide exercises to people who are currently receiving treatment for various types of cancers." Welman explains.
Movement as medicine
These initiatives are in line with her vision for the Department – “to showcase how movement is medicine, and how it can transform lives for the better". More generally, she wants to foster a physical activity culture in South Africa and globally to prevent, treat and maintain quality of life to achieve what she describes as life-long vitality.
Outside of work, Welman finds balance in nature walks and hikes, family time and experimenting with home-made ice cream flavours. “When I was a child, my father used to say we have an extra stomach for ice cream. I think he was right; there is always space for more."
She is known for her selflessness, her steady sense of responsibility and a quiet but determined belief that physical activity can, and should, be a standard part of how we care for people.
Above all, she leads with a steady sense of care and responsibility. “I am just the person in this role at this point in time," she reflects. “But it is the people around me who make the real difference. I am here to support that."
While her new position may bring added challenges, she has consistently demonstrated a remarkable ability to manage multiple responsibilities with ease throughout her career.
