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Prof Nicholas Pearce appointed Head of the UFS School of Clinical Medicine

06 December 2022 | Story André Damons | Photo Sonia Small

Dr Nicholas Pearce — Prof Nicholas Pearce has joined the Faculty of Health Sciences’ management team after being appointed Head of the School of Clinical Medicine. Prof Pearce is the former Head of the Department of Surgery at the UFS and led the Universitas Hospital’s COVID-19 Task Team.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof Nicholas Pearce led the COVID-19 Task Team of the Universitas Academic Hospital, ensuring that the hospital not only had enough Personal protective equipment (PPEs) and beds for patients, but also that the vaccination process ran smoothly. Now, the Best Doctor of the Year for 2022 – as named during this year’s National Annual Batho Pele Excellence Awards (NBPEA) – will lead the School of Clinical Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Prof Pearce, former Head of the Department of Surgery at the UFS who served the faculty in multiple capacities over a long period, took up this position on 1 December 2022 – a position he is looking forward to.

Create world-class doctors, maximise students’ full potential

“I’m excited about taking up my new position as Head of the School of Clinical Medicine. This is a role that comes with huge responsibility, and my vision is to create world-class doctors and to maximise each student’s full potential. We, as university, are a national asset and need to grow and develop to be of service to the future of our country. So, to lead a school with such a prestigious history is truly a privilege,” says Prof Pearce.

According to him, the goal for the Medical School in the next five years should be determined by three main core drivers: service delivery, research, and teaching and training. He would like to be in a stronger position, with innovation that can produce world-class doctors (both undergraduate and postgraduate).

If you look at the strategic plan of the UFS, says Prof Pearce, it is clear that, under the leadership of current Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, a period of regeneration and innovation is upon the university. Tied to this concept is the idea of self-evaluation and improvement. The idea of challenges and coming up with solutions excites him.

“I think for a while, my main aim will be to bring the university, the provincial Department of Health, and the school in alignment, ensuring that we are all pulling in the same direction to achieve the same goal.”

“At the end of the day, the goal here is to provide quality health care to the people of South Africa, while the Department of Health, the university, and society each function in different environments – coming together and understanding each other’s needs and having a common goal – excellent health care in this country for all our citizens.”

Lessons learned from surgery and running COVID-19 task teams

Prof Pearce, who was awarded the UFS Chancellor’s Medal for outstanding service during the April graduation ceremonies, says lessons learned from being both a surgeon and running COVID-19 task teams, are that strategic organisational processes need to be in place – systems strengthened, the policies and procedures adapted, and comprehensive planning taking place.

However, he says, one must also bear in mind that we have a history of very high academic standards in the School of Clinical Medicine, so you want to improve on that rather than go backwards.

“I learned a lot from surgery and COVID-19 that will equip me in future. COVID-19 taught me about organisational management, disaster management, funding, resource management, people management skills, development, etc.

“Running the Department of Surgery, one of the largest departments in the faculty with multiple inputs and personalities, has taught me that you are only as strong as the team behind you. I have an amazing team behind me in this new role, whether it is the dean, vice-dean, heads of department, administration, rectorate, and so forth.”

He will continue to work at the Universitas Hospital; however, being fully employed by the university, he will only be doing some calls and working over weekends.

“As a surgeon, theatre has always been my safe haven, my place of meditation, my place of peace, and I am sad to say goodbye to surgery and the Department of Surgery – it has been loyal, and I am grateful to everyone in the department; but I think as with all good things, there is a time to come and a time to go.”

News Archive

Kovsie artists to rock at Vryfees

2014-06-18

Photo: Conrad Bornman

It is the dead of winter in the heart of the Free State. The Vryfees is laying full steam ahead.

However, the talent that makes of this annual arts festival such a phenomenal success doesn’t only come from outside of our Bloemfontein Campus. This year’s productions will abound with performances by Kovsie staff, students and alumni from our Department of Drama and Theatre Arts.

Behind the scenes, our people will also play a vital role in the achievement and progress of the festival. Prof Luwes is a member of the festival committee and together with Dr Venter and Godfrey Manenye, he also serves on the artistic selection committee for theatre.

Thys Heydenrych, lecturer in the above department, was appointed as the technical manager of this year’s Vryfees. This means that he is in charge of the placement and assigning of venues for productions on campus. All the technical aspects for these venues rest on Heydenrych’s shoulders. For this huge task, he is supported by a team of technical staff which includes mostly students.

Take a look at the list of all our Kovsie artists who are working hard to make the 2014 Vryfees better than ever:

Don Juan onder die Boere
Lecturers: Walter Strydom, Gerben Kamper (director),
Students: Mark Dobson, Michael Garbett, Helet de Wet
Former students: Marijda Kamper (Wynand Mouton theatre manager), Ilne Fourie, Hilletje Möller, Chanmari Erasmus, Michelle Hoffman, An-Mari Loots, Madré van Straten

S(t)out en Peper
Lecturers: Dr Pieter Venter (director), Thys Heydenrych
Former students: Ilne Fourie, Michelle Hoffman

Nag van die Hiëna
Head of Department: Prof Nico Luwes (author and director)
Lecturers: Gerben Kamper, Minette Grové
Former students: Carel Nel, Lindy-Lee Kleynhans, Ilne Fourie, Angelo Mockie (staff member at Student Affairs)
Student: Peter Taljaard (PhD student)

Rondomskrik
Former student: Chrystal-Donna Roberts (currently Pasella presenter and previously on the set of 7de Laan)

Slaaf
Former student: Carel Nel

Te Veel vir ? Coloured Girl
Former students: Angelo Mockie (staff member at Student Affairs), Olivie Sauer

The Bar
Lecturer: Godfrey Manenye (director)
Former students: Angela Edwards, Jane Mpholo
Students: Yoliswa Jacobs and Luandro Carstens

Victoria se Geheim
Lecturer: Dr Pieter Venter (director)
Former students: Chanmari Erasmus, Carel Nel, Gené McCaskill, Michelle Hetzel
Students: Helet de Wet, Marli van der Bijl (NRF Magister Intern), Jana Coetzer, Marnel Bester

Een Kleine Lientjie
Lecturer: Walter Strydom
Former student: Anna Visser (author and director, OFM presenter)
Students: Marli van der Bijl, Charl Henning, Jana Coetzer

For more information on the productions or the Vryfees programme, follow this link:
http://www.vryfees.co.za/

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