Dr Nieder-Heitmann completed his undergraduate medical training in 2007 at the University of Stellenbosch. He finished his two years of internship in Windhoek, afterwhich he relocated to the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape for his community service year. Following that, he worked as a medical officer in Worcester Provincial Hospital in 2011 and 2012.

His ophthalmology career started in Witsieshoek, a rural town in the Eastern Free State. Under the close guidance of Dr Corne Gouws, a consultant ophthalmologist, he was amongst others trained to perform cataract surgery. He also completed his Diploma in Ophthalmology during this time.

He went on to complete his specialist training at Groote Schuur Academic Hospital through the University of Cape Town. For his outstanding performance during the 2018 final exam, he received the Justin van Selm medal, a prize bestowed by Colleges of Medicine of South Africa to the highest achieving ophthalmology candidate in the country.

After completing his four years of general ophthalmology training, Dr Nieder-Heitmann was offered an opportunity to do an additional year of vitreo-retinal training at Groote Schuur Academic Hospital’s retinal unit. During this fellowship he received comprehensive training in managing all aspects of medical and surgical retinal conditions.