Teaching and learning activities 2023
Staff and academic accomplishments and academic activities
Dr Sanet van Zyl, Head of the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, was honoured at the 2023 University of the Free State (UFS) Recognition of Service Awards in celebration of her 25 years of service at the university.
Dr Petra Maass and Dr Claudia Ntsapi participated in the Emerging Scholar Accelerator Programme in 2023. Dr Charlette Tiloke participated in the Engaged Scholarship Professional Development Programme (Community Engagement).
Dr Arnell Mostert and Sue Roux have been selected as staff well-being ambassadors for the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Dr Mostert was elected to serve on the SAAHE national council (Portfolio: Secretariat). She presented research results at the SAAHE Conference at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) from 19 to 21 June 2023. She also acted as session chair and adjudicator for poster presentations at the conference.
As a candidate for the Vice-Chancellor's Awards in 2023, Dr R Vorster-De Wet gave an oral presentation, titled Assessment: teaching journey. She was a featured speaker at the International Conference on the Future of Teaching and Education (ICFTE) from 16 to 18 June 2023 in Austria and online. She presented research results at the 10th South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Conference, hosted by Rhodes University in East London from 31 October to 3 November 2023, and acted as an external assessor for the Health Professions Education PGDip (postgraduate diploma). Dr A Mostert acted as external moderator and examiner of several undergraduate modules for the Free State School of Nursing (BNS215 and BNS225), the Paray School of Nursing (ANP216 and ANP226) in Lesotho, and the Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College. She also acted as an external examiner for the modules HPEA7905, HPEA5905, HPES5905, and HPES7905 (Division of Health Sciences Education). Dr P Maass served as an external examiner for a Master of Science in Anatomy dissertation, University of Pretoria, and for the BSc (Hons) degree in Human Biology, University of the Witwatersrand.
R Masiu completed the Engaged Leadership Programme and the Professional Development Programme in 2023.
Dr S van Zyl served on the evaluation committees for a PhD student in Dietetics, three PhD students in Health Professions Education, and one master's student in Anatomy and Cell Morphology. Dr Ntsapi served as the evaluation committee chairperson for one master's student in Virology and one PhD student in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr Mostert acted as an evaluation committee member for the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Division of Health Sciences Education. Dr Tiloke acted as external examiner for two master's dissertations from the Department of Physiology and the Department of Chemical Pathology at the University of Pretoria. Dr C Ntsapi, R Masiu, Dr S van Niekerk, and Dr C Vorster completed the Professional Development Programme presented by the Centre for Graduate Support in 2023. Dr A Grobler and Dr S van Niekerk attended the Train-the-Trainer Simulation workshops presented by the Division of Health Sciences Education: Faculty Development in 2023. Dr C Vorster completed the Curriculum Renewal Programme (CRP) presented by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, UFS.
Degrees conferred during 2023
The following students obtained their BMedSc Honours degrees during the April 2023 graduation ceremonies:
Abrahams, Lauren. BMedSc Honours (Anatomy and Cell Morphology). University of the Free State. Investigating vertebral column degenerative disease distribution in a Free State sample. Supervisor: Dr P Maass, co-supervisor: R Masiu.
Le Grange, Louis. BMedSc Honours (Anatomy and Cell Morphology). University of the Free State. The distribution of craniofacial blunt force trauma in a Free State skeletal sample. Supervisor: Dr P Maass, co-supervisor: R Masiu.
Hlunza, Ukho. BMedSc Honours (Physiology). University of the Free State. A comparison of body mass index and waist to height ratio to efficiently measure underweight in African females. Supervisor: M Muller; co-supervisor: Dr R de Wet.
Keetse, Gaopalelwe. BMedSc Honours (Physiology). University of the Free State. An investigation into the mechanisms leading to the development of type II diabetes mellitus in adults between 19 and 59 years old in the Universitas distinct in the Free State province. Supervisor: Dr C Tiloke, co-supervisor: Dr R de Wet.
Venter, Maruschke. BMedSc Honours (Physiology). University of the Free State. An investigation of the influence of macronutrient intake on serotonin levels and its association with sleep quality and quantity. Supervisor: Dr M Ferreira, co-supervisor: Dr R de Wet.
S Vazi, M Saki, and MA Bopape obtained MMedSc (Physiology) degrees at the graduation on 8 December 2023. MMedSc student M Moremane submitted her MMedSc dissertation for examination in November 2023 and will receive her degree in April 2024.
Songezo Vazi: An investigation into the inflammatory properties of Tenofovir in HepG2 human liver cells. Supervisor: Dr C Tiloke, co-supervisors: Dr S van Zyl, Dr R de Wet.
Mbasakazi Saki: The hepatoprotective effects of Moringa oleifera against antiretroviral induced cytotoxicity in HepG₂ cells. Main supervisor: Dr C Tiloke, co-supervisors: Dr Ntsapi, Dr H de Villiers.
Matlola A Bopape: Moringa oleifera on chaperone-mediated autophagy in human HepG2 liver cancer cells. Supervisor: Dr C Ntsapi, co-supervisor Dr C Tiloke.
Mr Bopape participated in the Faculty of Health Science's 3-Minute Thesis Competition on 23 September 2023.
Malebogo M Moremane: Investigating the potential antiproliferative effect of Moringa oleifera aqueous leaf extract in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Main supervisor: Dr C Tiloke, co-supervisor: Dr B Abrahams.
The Anatomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA) was privileged to host the 28th symposium of the International Symposia of Morphological Sciences (ISMS) from 5 to 8 August 2023 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. The four-day meeting focused on ‘Excellence in research and education’.
The following staff members presented research results at the ASSA conference:
Title: Morphology and branching pattern of the internal iliac artery in a Free State male cadaveric sample. Presenter: Nkoi, MJ (paper); Authors: Nkoi, MJ, Maass, P and Govender, S.
Title: A profile of skeletal lesions that are associated with tuberculosis in South Africa. Presenter: Masiu, R (paper).
Dr De Wet arranged an academic writing retreat from 17 to 19 May 2023 for staff and postgraduate students in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences who are planning/compiling a protocol/article/thesis.
Undergraduate student academic activities in the department:
The Forensic Anthropology team hosted the annual osteology and forensic archaeology workshops for second-year students in the BSc Forensic Sciences programme on 14 and 21 April, under the guidance of Dr P Maass, staff members Dr H Potgieter, R Masiu, E Anirudh, M Nkoi, and master's student D van der Merwe.
The following workshops were presented in the department:
An Introduction to Human Osteology and Forensic Anthropology workshop was presented to second-year Forensic Sciences students in the departments of Forensic Genetics and Basic Medical Sciences, University of the Free State. 14 April 2023. Staff members involved were Dr P Maass, Dr H Potgieter, R Masiu, E Anirudh, M Nkoi, and D van der Merwe (Anatomy master’s student).
A Forensic Osteoarchaeology and Excavation workshop – theory and practice – was presented to second-year Forensic Sciences students in the departments of Forensic Genetics and Basic Medical Sciences, UFS, on 21 April 2023. Staff members involved were Dr P Maass, Dr H Potgieter, M Nkoi, and D van der Merwe (Anatomy master's student).
An Introduction to Identification and Trauma/Pathology Analysis of Skeletal Remains workshop was presented to Free State Forensic Pathology Services on 10 June 2023. Staff members involved were Dr P Maass, R Masiu, E Anirudh, M Nkoi, and D van der Merwe (Anatomy master's student).
Training sessions in the department for postgraduate students and staff (Physiology)
Dr B Abrahams convened the CelVivo™ Masterclass workshop for staff and postgraduate MMedSc students, presented in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences from 6 to 9 June 2023. The training workshop illustrated the use of the CelVivo 3D cell culture technology to generate in vitro models that closely resemble in vivo conditions.

Photo: Third-year BSc Anatomy students during an articulation practical session presented in the Anatomy workshop under the guidance of Dr Henk Potgieter and Sandile Notuku.