Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
16 August 2021 | Story Dr Cindé Greyling | Photo Supplied
Dr Samantha Potgieter – in the front line of the fight against COVID-19 .


Dr Samantha Potgieter is an infectious disease expert at the Universitas Academic Hospital and affiliated Lecturer in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of the Free State (UFS). She was also the first health-care worker to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the Free State. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, her main focus was on complicated HIV and drug-resistant TB as well as hospital-acquired infections. Since the emergence of COVID-19, she has been managing the COVID-19 clinical response at Universitas.

What is the best thing about your job?
I work in an amazing team with colleagues who, after 14 years, I can say have become friends.

What is the best and worst decision you have ever made?
Marrying the person that I did is by far the best decision I have ever made. And I must be honest, I regret very few of my decisions. Even the bad ones have turned out to be learning opportunities.

What was/is the biggest challenge of your career?
Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as an infectious disease physician was by far the biggest challenge of my career. It was an equally fascinating learning curve and an immense privilege to be in a position to contribute.

What does the word woman mean to you?
The word woman means a million different things. We are daughters, wives, mothers, sisters, and friends. We are strong when we need to be and yet vulnerable with those we love. We can be powerful but kind. I love being a woman.

Which woman inspires you, and why?
My mom. She is hands down the kindest person I know. Her quiet strength and her grace – she is everything I strive to be.

What advice would you give to the 15-year-old you?
I spent a lot of time wondering what life is all about, and I still don’t have the answers. But I think I would tell the 15-year-old me to remember that life doesn’t have to be perfect or easy in order to be good.

What is the one self-care thing that you do? 
Cuddling my little ones – it’s my very favourite thing to do.

What makes you a woman of quality, impact, and care?
I am a woman, and I think all women are these things. We all have the capacity to care for those around us and to change our small corner of the earth for the better.
 
I cannot live without … my tribe of sisters, they make me laugh, they hold me up.
My secret weapon is … an early start to the day.
I always have … an extremely messy car (it’s really not my fault)
I will never … buy a pressure cooker – a good friend has put the fear of life into me!
I hope … that my daughter will grow up in a world where she will also be able to say that she loves being a woman.

News Archive

Learners positive about Leadership Summit
2013-04-04

 

Photo: Sonia Small
05 April 2013

  Video clip (YouTube)

About 250 learners from 55 schools in the country arrived on Thursday 4 April 2013 at the various residences on our Bloemfontein-Campus where they will be staying during the three day summit. During the summit, learners and facilitators discussed the connection between emotional intelligence, leadership, self-leadership, development and communication with conflict resolution in mind.

The summit, which was attended by top leaders from schools, is already hosted for the third consecutive year. Schools are invited months before the time to send representatives to the summit.

These were the impressions of the learners after the first day:

“Today was very nice and interesting. We learnt how not to limit or degrade yourself. “ – Sané Pretorius, Ficksburg High School.

“We can apply the methods we learnt here today to become better leaders both in our schools and community.” – Onkarabile Marumo, Eunice High School

“It was a long and interesting day.” – Johan Barnard, Staatspresident Swart High School

“It is definitely a worthwhile experience for any aspiring young leader.” Shaheen Karodia, Muir College

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept