Teaching and learning activities staff 2022
Dr A Mostert was elected as a member of the SAAHE Council and Dr Beynon Abrahams was elected as vice chairperson of the Society of Advance Cell Culture Models of Africa (SACCMA). Dr H de Villiers formed part of the CHE accreditation panel for St. Mary’s Nursing College on Thursday 12 May 2022. Dr S van Zyl, Dr. Roné de Wet, and Dr. Henk Potgieter formed part of the School of Biomedical Sciences panel during the Health Sciences career week held on the 26th of January 2022.
Dr. C Tiloke acted as external examiner for the Undergraduate third-year course (Applied Physiology: Integrated and Pathophysiology) for the Department of Physiology, University of Pretoria. Dr A Mostert acted as external moderator and examiner of undergraduate modules: Free State School of Nursing: BNS215 & BNS225 and Paray School of Nursing (Lesotho): ANP216 & ANP226. She also acted as an external examiner of HPEA7905 oral presentations at the Division of Health Sciences Education on 11 and 13 October 2022. Dr P Maass acted as external moderator for the BSc (Hons) in Human Biology degree, and BSc (Hons) in Forensic Sciences degree, University of the Witwatersrand. She also acted as an external moderator for the Forensic Anthropology third-year module at the University of Pretoria. Dr. R de Wet acted as an external moderator for Henrietta Stockdale nursing college and external assessor for Health professions education PGDip (Post graduate diploma). Dr C Ntsapi has been appointed as an external thesis examiner for an MSc student at Stellenbosch University's Physiology Department. Dr C Ntsapi completed the Health Professions Education moderation module course (HPEA7905) in November 2023.
Dr S van Zyl, Dr. R de Wet formed part of MMedSc/PhD Evaluation Committees in 2022. Dr. S van Zyl, Dr. A Mostert, Dr. R de Wet, Dr. P Maass, Dr. M Ferreira, Ms. A Kalicharan, Me Y Benade, Ms S Govender and Mr. M Muller successfully completed the Curriculum renewal program (CRP) presented by the Centre of Teaching and learning, UFS. Dr. Mostert was invited as a guest presenter of a HPEA7905 lecture at the Division of Health Sciences Education on 21 April 2022, titled “Constructive alignment”. Dr P Maass and Dr Claudia Ntsapi were nominated and accepted for the Emerging Scholar Accelerator Programme (ESAP). Dr S Gordon completed a Basic Conversational Sesotho module (NQF Level 5). All the staff members attended a team development session on 15 November 2022 presented by Mr. Igno van Niekerk that focused on resilience fatigue and self-awareness. Dr A Mostert and Mrs. S Roux were nominated for the “ Staff Well-being ambassadors” programme.
Teaching and learning activities staff 2021
Dr Arnelle Mostert was the recipient of the Vice Chancellors awarded for Excellence in Learning and Teaching 2021, held on the 13- 15 September 2021. Dr Mostert was one of three staff members of the UFS nominated for the Vice Chancellors award. She presented her work at the Annual UFS Learning and Teaching conference. The theme of her presentation was “The bare bones of anatomy and physiology teaching: A mixed bag of opportunities”. Dr Mostert was also nominated by her students for the Khothatsa project (an initiative of the Centre of Teaching and Learning, UFS). Dr A Mostert was also elected to serve on the SAAHE central regional management committee (portfolio: administration).
Photo: Dr Arnelle Mostert was the recipient of the Vice Chancellors awarded for Excellence in Learning and Teaching in 2021
Dr J Govender was nominated to serve on the SA national committee for the International Union of Physiological Sciences for a four-year term. As a member she will have access to dedicated ISC programmes, grants and other partnership opportunities, including: support South Africa’s agenda on physiology; support for hosting of events that discuss issues relevant to the ISC national agenda; support to promote engagements that increase participation of South African experts in regional and global networks aligned with ISC; position South African experts to participate in international committees and projects; support the dissemination of ISC aligned research outputs to the broader society (including thought pieces to media houses, audio and video communication etc). Dr Beynon Abrahams is a registered early career member of the European Association for Cancer Research.
Dr S van Zyl acted as HPCSA panel member for the evaluation of the Clinical Associate training programme (Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice), faculty of health sciences, University of Pretoria (27-30 September to 01 October 2021). Dr Helena de Villiers conducted nine evaluations for new curriculum applications from various South African Universities and private Higher Education Institutions for the Council on Higher Education (CHE), May 2021 – Nov 2021. She also served as a panel member for a virtual site visit for an accreditation of programmes at the Foundation for Professional Development, 30 Nov 2021. Dr Charlette Tiloke acted as external assessor for an M.Med.Sc. thesis for the Department of Chemistry, University of Limpopo.
Dr Petra Maass was re-elected as a member of the council of the Anatomical Society of Southern Africa. She also served as a peer-reviewer for the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, external examiner for a Master of Science in Medicine thesis from the University of the Witwatersrand, and external moderator for the BHSc (Hons) in Forensic Sciences degree, University of the Witwatersrand.
Dr Annelize Vorster acted as peer-reviewer for the American Journal of Health Promotion. Dr van Zyl acted as peer-reviewer for the African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, American Journal of Health Promotion and BMJ Open Journal. Dr Charlette Tiloke and Miss Faith Moichela completed (with a distinction) the “I am” Employee Wellness short learning programme presented by the UFS. Mr K Guambe was appointed on the 1st of May 2021 as Anatomy lecturer in the department Basic Medical Sciences.
Graduation, promotions and awards 2022
Dr S van Zyl received her PhD degree and the following students received their bachelor’s honors degrees at the graduation ceremony that was held on the 22nd of April 2022: Masunyane KW (Anatomy), Nkoi MJ (Anatomy), Van der Merwe D (Anatomy, Cum Laude; Mwendauya A (Physiology), Thubisi R (Physiology), Van Onselen J (Physiology)
Miss Daniëlle van der Merwe was the recipient of the Dean’s medal awarded to the student who achieved the best results in respect of a bachelor’s honors degree in the Faculty of Health Sciences. She is currently enrolled as an MMedSci (Anatomy & Cell Morphology in the field of Forensic Anthropology) in the department of Basic Medical Sciences.
Photo: Daniëlle van der Merwe with her degree in Bachelor of Medical Science Honours in Anatomy and Cell Morphology. Daniëlle was also the recipient of the Dean’s medal which she received for achieving the best results in respect of a Bachelor Honours Degree in the faculty.
Miss Sinead Suter received the award for the best third-year undergraduate Physiology student in the Department of Basic Medical Science in 2021 at the Faculty Natural and Agricultural Sciences prize-giving function on the 20th of April 2022. A particular word of thanks to Dr Roné de Wet, who sponsored and presented the trophy to the student at the ceremony. Mr Alexander Smit received the award for the best second-year MBChB student in Anatomy (MANA2618), and Miss Reabetwe Maleka the award for the best second-year MBChB student in Biochemistry (MMOL2618) at the Prize-giving function of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Teaching and learning activities 2022
Undergraduate student activities in the department:
Photo: Second-year BSc physiology students (PHBG2626) during a blood glucose practical session (top left). First-year health and rehabilitation students during a small group discussion session in the Anatomy Museum (top right and bottom).
Photo: First-medical students during the White coat ceremony (left) on their way to the dissection hall for the first time (middle) and during a health promotion exhibition held on the 16th of May 2022 (right) in the faculty foyer.
Photo: MBChB students in the Jan Toerien study centre and dissection hall during training activities.
Photo: Students in the Anatomy workshop area during training sessions in the department.
Workshop for second-year Forensic Sciences students
Dr. Petra Maass and her team presented the annual “Introduction to Osteology” and “Forensic Archaeology Theory and Practice” workshops using an “each one teaches one approach” where second-year students from the Forensic Sciences program had to teach their peers basic osteology, followed by excavation of a mystery skeletal case.
Photo: Dr. Petra Maass and her team presented the annual “Introduction to Osteology” and “Forensic Archaeology Theory and Practice” workshops for second-year Forensic Sciences students of the Departments of Forensic Genetics and Basic Medical Sciences, University of the Free State.
Postgraduate student activities in the department: 2022
B.Med.Sc. Honors (Physiology) projects:
Ukho Hlunza (Supervisor: Mr Muller) Title: A comparison of Body Mass Index and Waist to Height ratio to efficiently measure underweight in African females
Gao Keetse (Supervisor: Initially dr Tiloke followed by Mr Muller) Title: An investigation into the mechanisms leading to the development of Type II Diabetes mellitus in adults between 19-59 years old in the Universitas distinct at the Free State province.
Maruschke Venter (Supervisor: Dr Ferreira) Title: An investigation of the influence of macronutrient intake on serotonin levels and its association with sleep quality and quantity.
B.Med.Sc. Honours (Anatomy & Cell Morphology) projects:
Lauren Abrahams (Supervisor: Dr P Maass) Title: Investigating Vertebral Column Degenerative Disease Distribution in a Free State Sample.
Louis Le Grange (Supervisor: Dr P Maass) Title: The Distribution of Craniofacial Blunt Force Trauma in a Free State Skeletal Sample.
Photo: Postgraduate MSc Physiology students during research activities in the cell culture laboratory
The following MSc Physiology students will conclude postgraduate research studies in 2023:
- Mr S. Vazi (Title of study: An investigation into the inflammatory properties of Tenofovir in HepG2 human liver cells).
- Ms M.Saki (Title of study: The hepatoprotective effects of Moringa oleifera against antiretroviral induced cytotoxicity in HepG₂ cells).
- Ms M.M. Moremane (Title of study: Investigating the potential antiproliferative effect of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract in MCF-7 breast cancer cells).
- Mr M.A. Bopape (Title of study: Moringa oleifera on chaperone-mediated autophagy in human HepG2 liver cancer cells). Mr Bopape, supervised by Dr Claudia Ntsapi and co-supervised by Dr Charlette Tiloke has successfully received an NRF Masters scholarship for his studies in 2022.
The following MSc Anatomy student will conclude postgraduate research studies in 2023:
- D van der Merwe (Title of study: Assessing Lifestyle and Stress in a Free State Skeletal Population)
Graduation, promotions and awards 2021
The following staff members graduated in 2021: Dr. Roné Vorster De Wet (Ph.D. degree in Health Professions Education), Dr. Beynon Abrahams (Ph.D. degree in Physiology), Dr. Tshegofatso Ramphaleng (Ph.D. degree in Anthropology), and Ms. Faith Moichela (MSc in Medical Sciences, Cum Laude).
The following postgraduate students graduated in 2021: Ms Amanda Small (MMedSc Anatomy and Cell morphology) and BMedSc Honors students: Naledi Ranyane (Physiology), Lisa Goya(Anatomy), Mandi van der Merwe (Anatomy and Cell Morphology), Marilize Botha (Anatomy and Cell Morphology). Ms van der Merwe was the recipient of the Dean’s Medal awarded for achieving the best results in respect of a Bachelor Honours degree in The Faculty of Health Sciences.
Miss Palesa Letsoalo received the award for the best third year undergraduate Physiology student in the Department Basic Medical Science in 2020 and Miss Sinead Suter will receive the award in 2021 at the NAS Faculty award ceremony in 2022.
Miss Palesa Letsoalo received the award for the best third year undergraduate Physiology student in the Department Basic Medical Science from Dr Roné de Wet.
Teaching and learning activities
Undergraduate teaching activities in the department Basic Medical Sciences during COVID.
Mrs Amanda Nel “captured” first year MBChB students during a blended learning session. Some students attended the FtF session presented by Mrs Arishka Govender (Anatomy lecturer) while other students follow the session online via Blackboard collaborate.
The department also welcomed a number of postgraduate (Anatomy and Physiology) Honors students in February 2021. The student’s names and titles of the proposed research projects as follows:
Anatomy honors projects:
Miss Kelebogile Masunyane: Assessing the accuracy of transition analysis for adult skeletal age estimation in the Free State.
Mr Mojalefa Nkoi: Morphology and branching of the internal iliac artery in a Free State male cadaveric sample.
Miss Danielle Van Der Merwe: Assessing craniofacial symmetry in a Free State sample.
Anatomy honours students (Kelebogile, Mojalefa and Danielle) in front of the dissection hall and during a skills development session in the Anatomy laboratory.
Physiology honors projects:
Ms A Mwendauya: The potential development of cardiovascular disease due to cocaine abuse: a retrospective
Ms R Thubisi: The effect of chaperone-mediated autophagy on Sorafenib-treated human HepG2 cells.
Ms J Van Onselen: The role of cancer-associated adipocytes in breast cancer cell survival and metastasis.
Honours and MSc Physiology students hard at work in the tissue culture and physiology laboratories during skills development training sessions.
Dr Claudia Ntsapi and Physiology honours students during a skills development session in the Physiology laboratory.