Who is the Department of Anatomical Pathology?
At the University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Anatomical Pathology, we provide a quality service in diagnostic histo- and cytopathology, post mortems on patients who have died from natural causes and teaching of both undergraduate medical and paramedical students as well as post graduate students specialising in our discipline.
The specialist pathologists are in the joint employment of the National Health Laboratory Services and the University of the Free State, while the registrars and support personnel are employed by the National Health Laboratory Services.
Services
The Department of Anatomical Pathology offers diagnostic histopathology and cytopathology services and processes approximately 25000 specimens a year from public service hospitals in the Free State, Northern Cape and North West Provinces.
The Division of Cytopathology receives 56000 specimens from the Free State, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga annually. We also offer;
- neonatal/foetal & adult post-mortem investigations,
- a bone referral centre,
- immunohistochemistry,
- electron microscopy and
- the only diagnostic renal biopsy service in the Free State.
Five full-time pathologists not only do diagnostic work, but also train pre- and post-graduate students in the medical and allied health professions. There are six registrar posts, and on average, one pathologist a year is qualified by the department. Departmental research is presented annually at local and international congresses, as well as in peer reviewed journals.
Training
Department of Medical Microbiology Hosts Bacteriology and Parasitology Workshop
The Department of Medical Microbiology hosted a highly successful Bacteriology and Parasitology Workshop from 6–8 August 2025, under the leadership of the Head of Department, Dr Jeannette Wadula.
The three-day event brought together a diverse group of participants, including technologists, technicians, registrars, and infectious diseases fellows. A total of 30 attendees from across South Africa took part, with the largest representation coming from the Northwest Province.
The sessions were led by Dr Wadula (Head of Department), Dr Pillay (Consultant in Medical Microbiology), and Dr Chu (Consultant in Medical Microbiology). They were ably supported by three experienced technologists from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital Department of Medical Microbiology.
The workshop provided hands-on training across key diagnostic benches, including the blood culture and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bench, the pus bench (covering a wide range of clinical samples), and parasitology. The programme was designed to strengthen technical competence, enhance collaboration, and bridge the knowledge gap between clinical staff and laboratory teams.
Dr Wadula emphasized the importance of ongoing skills development in microbiology, noting that such workshops are crucial to supporting both clinical care and laboratory excellence. The department intends to host this workshop at least once annually, with the goal of expanding to twice a year to meet growing demand.
The positive feedback from participants highlights the value of this initiative in fostering professional growth and strengthening the diagnostic capacity of microbiology laboratories across the country.
Undergraduate Training
The department offers a one-semester course on general pathology to the second-year MB ChB class, and has inputs in many of the system modules during the second and third years of study. Our training programme includes:
- Problem slide basket discussions
- Electron microscopy
- Dermatology/Nephrology
- Surgery/Journal club
Postgraduate Training
A four-year postgraduate training programme is offered for medical practitioners wishing to specialise in Anatomical Pathology. Six approved registrar posts exist and on average one new specialist pathologist is produced each year. Many of the activities in the training programme are registered for CPD points.