Dr Danie Morkel completed his undergraduate studies in medicine (MBChB) at the University of Stellenbosch in 1984. After intern year and national conscription, under Dr Abe Lambrechts, he worked in the Anaesthetic Department at Tygerberg Hospital whilst passing the Diploma in Anaesthetics. He then worked as a Senior House Officer at Newmarket General Hospital, in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery headed by pioneer Endoscopic Knee Surgeon, Mr David Dandy, Shoulder surgeon, Mr Chris Constant, and Hip surgeon, Mr Richard Villar. He enrolled in the University of Stellenbosch Orthopaedic Surgery training program and qualified as an Orthopaedic Surgeon in 1995 and holds both the MMed (Orth) (cum laude) degree from the University of Stellenbosch and the FCS Orth(SA) qualification from the College of Orthopaedic Surgeons of South Africa. The Orthopaedic program at Stellenbosch University Medical School was chaired by Prof Gert Vlok and Jimmy Wade with opportunities to work with Dr Antoon de Klerk, Spike Erasmus and Dr Joe de Beer, leading South African Orthopaedic Surgeons.
He is fully registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
After 7 months as a consultant in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Tygerberg Hospital, he started a private practice at Mediclinic Vergelegen Hospital in Somerset West in August 1996, in association with Drs Francois Wahl and Jan-Louis van den Berg. From 1999 to 2008 he provided the Orthopaedic Surgery cover at Helderberg Hospital in a part time capacity.
In 2000 Dr Dirk Hoffman joined the association when Dr Roger Close relocated to the UK. In 2007 Dr Charl van den Berg joined the association and Dr Johan Nortje in 2014 and Dr Peter Hardcastle in 2015, when Dr Jan-Louis van den Berg relocated.
His practice is located at the Vergelegen Mediclinic which is equipped with state of the art surgical and diagnostic equipment and is on a par with international standards. Friendly and efficient staff will deal with all administrative and financial queries.
Dr Morkel has experience in general Orthopaedic surgery, but is focussing on the treatment of all hip and knee conditions. This includes endoscopic and reconstructive surgery of hips and knees. He believes that conservative measures must be exhausted before surgical management is indicated. He also has a keen interest in sports injuries and injury prevention. He is involved with research with the Sport Science and Mechatronic Engineering Departments of the University of Stellenbosch. He was also part of a team that compiled the Tennis SA long term development program, with focus injury prevention. His patients will benefit from the latest international orthopaedic advances.
He is affiliated and a member of the following Professional Societies:
For continued professional development in orthopaedic and hip and knee surgery he focuses on:
Dr Morkel is actively involved in the training and education of fellow orthopaedic surgeons in the advanced field of arthroscopic knee surgery. He is regularly involved as a consultant in training sessions and cadaver workshops and welcomes visiting surgeons in his operating room.
He has presented research papers at South African Orthopaedic Association Annual Congresses, SA Sports Medicine Association Annual Congresses, ISAKOS Biannual Congresses and STMS Biannual Congresses. He is a volunteer sports administrator in Tennis and founder member of the Anyone for tennis development program based in Strand, Somerset West, Eersterivier and Stellenbosch. He is a keen tennis player and mountain biker.
