Introduction
The Department of Clinical Imaging Sciences (Diagnostic Radiology) is committed to excellence as an academic radiology department, incorporating principles such as patient-centred care, cutting-edge technology, comprehensive imaging modalities, quality assurance and safety, efficient information management, efficient workflow, interdisciplinary collaboration, education and training, and continuous improvement.
As an integral component of the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Department of Clinical Imaging Sciences (Diagnostic Radiology) is committed to post-graduate radiology education. To ensure excellence in our teaching, we proactively stay informed of new developments in diagnostic and therapeutic radiology, as well as the latest educational approaches and assessment methods. Our curriculum is carefully crafted to consider South Africa's burden of disease while aligning with international standards, ensuring that our students receive comprehensive and relevant education. We also actively engage in undergraduate medical education, aiming to impart a thorough understanding of basic radiology principles to medical students at the UFS.
Research is an integral and continuous facet of our department, involving ongoing projects within our own department and collaborative efforts with other clinical departments. Maintaining high-quality research standards with the help of the UFS-HSREC and the Department of Biostatistics allows the publication of our research in accredited journals.
Objectives
- Provide appropriate, evidence-based, quality radiological services under any payment and care delivery model.
- Use clinical knowledge, skills, and technology to keep radiation exposure to our patients and personnel as low as reasonably achievable.
- To work alongside other clinical departments and facilities to provide the best clinical care for our patients, hospitals, and community.
- Ensure high-quality clinical care through timely access to investigations or services, the highest level of clinical performance and the appropriate use of investigations or services.
- Professional conduct guided by ethical principles.
- Teach medical students how to safely and appropriately use medical imaging to benefit their patients.
- Recruit, mentor, and develop imaging healthcare professionals through postgraduate radiology training and education aligned with CMSA and HPCSA guidelines.
- Contribute to and expand the current body of knowledge in radiology through ethical research and other scholarly activities.
General Information
Our radiology department provides radiology services to Universitas Academic Hospital, National District Hospital, and Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital whilst providing imaging support to Dihlabeng (Welkom) Regional Hospital through Teleradiology. Our hospitals receive patients from all over the Free State, Lesotho, and the Northern Cape; consequently, our registrars benefit from exposure to a diverse range of medical and surgical pathology in both our adult and paediatric populations. Working at Pelonomi, with its Level 1 Trauma Unit, also ensures more than adequate exposure to trauma and emergency imaging, whilst the Oncology Unit at National Hospital provides ample exposure to oncological imaging whilst cultivating an in-depth understanding of the role of diagnostic and interventional radiology in managing oncology patients.
Our well-equipped radiology departments provide evidence-based radiological services through a range of modalities, including ultrasound, conventional radiography, fluoroscopy, interventional radiology, mammography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, all facilitated through an integrated digital Picture Archiving and Communication System.
Training
Undergraduate training
Our consultant radiologists and registrars actively contribute to the undergraduate medical training program at UFS, teaching fundamental radiological principles to medical students.
Postgraduate training
We are committed to diversity and transformation. Any South African medical graduate wishing to pursue a career in diagnostic radiology is eligible to apply for registrar posts as advertised. It is, however, essential that the Part l examination, as convened by the College of Radiologists of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, be completed before the commencement of registrar training.
Our five-year postgraduate training programme aligns with the College of Radiologists (SA) Diagnostic Radiology Curriculum.
In addition to Part I and Part II FC Rad (Diag) SA examinations, a registrar must pass a subsidiary module, General Radiology Principles, during semesters five and six of the training programme.
A candidate must complete at least 42 months of the training programme, meet the minimum requirements in all workplace-based assessments, complete the required MMed research assignment, and submit the final manuscript for examination before writing the Part II examination in Radiological Diagnosis. The Part II examination is the final Fellowship Examination of the College of Radiologists of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (FC Rad (Diag)SA Part II) as required for registration as a specialist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
Subspecialist Training
The Department of Clinical Imaging Sciences offers a SAQA-accredited Master of Philosophy in Interventional Radiology master’s degree.
Radiology teaching and lecturing
Our department conducts lectures on various radiology aspects for medical and surgical departments, allied health departments, and radiography students.
Research
Each new registrar is expected to perform HSREC-approved research in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree MMed Diagnostic Radiology.
Full HSREC approval must be achieved within 24 months of the training programme, and the final manuscript must be accepted for assessment before a candidate may be allowed to write the Part II examination in Diagnostic Radiology.
In addition to supervising our registrar's research, consultants are encouraged to collaborate with other clinical departments and publish in accredited publications.
We are often approached by other clinical departments that require our imaging expertise and imaging equipment, especially the 3T MRI, to conduct their own research.
Association
We are represented on the Council of the College of Radiologists of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, where we are actively involved in the Executive Committee, the Examining Board, and the Education Portfolio.
Contact details for inquiries purposes
Anna Lephuthing
Clinical imaging
Telephone number: +27 51 405 3471
Email:Lephuthinga@ufs.ac.za