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22 February 2022 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo Sonia Small (Kaleidoscope Studios)
Dr Nicholas Pearce
Dr Nicholas Pearce, Head of the Department of Surgery, and recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal.

At a meeting held on 26 November 2021, the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) approved the awarding of the UFS Chancellor’s Medal for outstanding service to Dr Nicholas Pearce, Head of the Department of Surgery in the Faculty of Health Sciences. 

Heading the Free State Province COVID-19 Task Team 

Dr Pearce completed his undergraduate medical studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2002 before pursuing an MMed, FCS (SA) in Surgery and a Vascular Fellowship at the UFS. Since 2003, he has been employed at the Universitas Hospital in various capacities and was the Head of the Department of Surgery at the UFS, before heading the COVID-19 Task Team at the Universitas National Hospital in Bloemfontein and sitting on various national and provincial COVID-19 task teams. 

From the onset of the pandemic, Dr Pearce was one of the champions who worked with a team of colleagues to address the COVID-19 needs of the UFS community, Bloemfontein, and the Free State. His leadership and drive during the initial stages of the pandemic, and continuously thereafter, ensured the successful roll-out of treatment plans and the training of staff and students for the comprehensive management programme (vaccination, treatment, screening, etc.) in the Free State.

Dr Pearce was convinced that it was critical to vaccinate not only front-line healthcare workers, but all members of society as well as the university community, to prevent staff members from getting ill and reducing the workforce behind the fight against the virus. He has also been instrumental in finalising clinical environment policies for hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE), patient visits, referrals, and procedures in various clinical environments. Dr Pearce visited all the Free State health institutions to provide expert advice on readiness to accommodate COVID-19 patients, resources and equipment, dedicated wards, and overall plan implementation.

Advisory role to Free State and Northern Cape governments on COVID-19
Dr Nicholas Pearce played a key role in establishing and implementing the Free State vaccination programme.

Dr Pearce played a key role in establishing and implementing the Free State vaccination programme by training staff in PPE use, high care, theatre, and intensive care unit protocols. In addition, he advised the MEC for Health in the Free State on field hospitals and assisted the Northern Cape Province with advice. During a period of high demand and low supply, Dr Pearce ensured the acquisition of masks, sanitiser, gloves, and visors for hospital and faculty staff and students who worked in clinical areas. 

The university recognises and commends his valuable contribution and outstanding service at community, local, and national level. His dedication has optimised the safety of health-care workers as well as the patients they care for.

“Thank you to the university community for this great honour; I feel humbled by receiving such a prestigious acknowledgement. It would be amiss if I did not acknowledge the teams that I have led and the support I received from the University of the Free State, the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the Department of Health in the Free State in my endeavours. With teamwork, so much can be achieved – our endeavours are summed up in the concept of the Batho Pele (People First) approach,” said Dr Pearce.


The Chancellor’s Medal will be presented to Dr Pearce during a graduation ceremony in 2022.

News Archive

UFS honours many during Autumn diploma and graduation ceremony
2007-04-16

The University of the Free State (UFS) will award 797 diplomas and 2 633 degrees from 23-26 April 2006 during this year’s autumn diploma and graduation ceremony. Students from the Main Campus and Vista Campus will take part in the ceremony.   
 
Altogether 32 doctorates and two honorary doctorates will be awarded. The honorary doctorandi are Prof. Barend Johannes (Bannie) Britz and author Mr Khotso Pieter David Maphalla. 
 
On 26 April 2007 Prof. Britz will be honoured for his contribution to architecture when the degree D.Arch. (h.c.) will be awarded to him.
 
Mr Maphalla will be honoured for his contribution to the development of the Sesotho language and culture. He will receive the degree Ph.D. (h.c.) on 12 May 2007 during the graduation ceremony of the Qwaqwa Campus.
 
On 23 April 2007 at 08:30 altogether 497 diplomas will be awarded in the upgrading programmes of the School of Education in the Faculty of The Humanities, namely A.C.E, N.P.D.E. and C.E. At 14:30 on the same day 300 diplomas will be awarded to students from all the faculties.
 
On 24 April 2007 at 08:30 altogether 442 degrees and three doctorates will be awarded in the School of Education and at 14:30, 461 degrees and four doctorates will be awarded in the Faculty of The Humanities, excluding the School of Education.  
 
On 25 April 2007 at 08:30 altogether 296 degrees and one doctorate will be awarded to students in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. This includes students in B.Acc., B.Admin., B.Pub., related honours degrees and all masters and doctors degrees. At 14:30 on the same day degrees will be awarded to 482 students from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, excluding students in B.Acc., B.Admin., B.Pub., related honours degrees and all masters and doctors degrees.
 
On 26 April 2007 at 08:30 altogether 595 degrees, 19 doctorates and one honorary doctorate will be awarded in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. At 14:30 on the same day 357 degrees and five doctorates will be awarded to students in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Law and Theology.
 
Both the diploma and degree ceremonies will be held in the Callie Human Centre on the Main Campus in Bloemfontein.
 
Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
16 April 2007

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