Dr Hannes Jansen van Vuuren hopes his PhD research into emergency care in South Africa will inform national policy and lead to the implementation of a structured, supportive internship programme for Emergency Care Practitioners.

Dr Jansen van Vuuren, a Course Coordinator & Flight Emergency Care Practitioner, graduated on Friday (12 December 2025) at the University of the Free State (UFS) December graduation. He graduated with a PhD in Health Professions Education, with a specific focus on training, professional development, and post-qualification readiness of Emergency Care Practitioners (ECP) in South Africa.

Dr René Botha from the Central University of Technology (CUT) was his supervisor and his co-supervisor was Professor Michelle Engelbrecht from the UFS. 

“A structured, supportive internship programme for Emergency Care Practitioners has the potential to enhance clinical competence, professional confidence, and patient outcomes. I hope the findings contribute to strengthening emergency care across South Africa. Even though this research involved the highest clinical level in the pre-hospital environment, it could also be beneficial to other qualifications,” says Dr Jansen van Vuuren. 

Emergency care is evolving rapidly

He has been involved in emergency medical services for more than 30 years, both operationally and in education, as well as in practice. His career has always been centred on saving lives, supporting clinicians, and ensuring excellence in pre-hospital care. Health Professions Education became a natural extension of that passion, allowing him to influence not only individual patients, but the entire system, through training and capacity development.

For this reason and because emergency care in South Africa is evolving rapidly yet there is limited structured evidence to guide how newly qualified ECPs transition into the workforce, he decided to undertake this research for his PhD. He saw a clear gap in both literature and practice and believed that developing an internship model could directly improve the quality of care delivered to patients. This study was driven by a desire to strengthen emergency medical systems and support practitioners at a critical stage of their careers. 

His research, continued Dr Jansen van Vuuren, identified several gaps in the transition from qualification to practice, including variable support structures, inconsistent mentorship, and differing levels of clinical exposure.

“It is both a humbling and deeply rewarding moment. Completing a PhD represents years of commitment, sacrifice, and perseverance, not only academically, but personally. I am proud of what this journey has allowed me to contribute to the field, and grateful for the support of my supervisors, colleagues, and family.

“The journey was demanding but transformative. Balancing full-time professional responsibilities with doctoral studies required discipline and resilience. There were challenging periods, especially during data collection and analysis, but these moments strengthened my research skills and shaped me as an academic. Importantly, I had exceptional supervision, which made the journey meaningful and enriching,” says Dr Jansen van Vuuren. 

Working closely with practitioners

According to him, a unique and meaningful aspect of his journey was the close collaboration with ECPs internationally and from different provinces in South Africa with various levels of experience. Their insights brought the study to life and highlighted the real-world challenges faced by graduates entering the field. Additionally, working closely with his supervisors each offering different expertise, was an invaluable and enriching experience.

Dr Jansen van Vuuren dedicated his PhD to all ECPs, past, present, and future, who serve with courage under difficult circumstances. “I hope the study contributes meaningfully to supporting them and strengthening the profession. I am also deeply grateful to my family for their unwavering support throughout this journey.”