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06 September 2022 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied
UFS Student doctors
Some of the medical students from the University of the Free State (UFS) that impressed doctors at Pelonomi Hospital are from left; Sebastiaan Pauw, Dian Honiball, Gabriela von Eschwege and Abigail van Neel.
Third-year medical students from the University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Health Sciences impressed doctors with their stellar work during their three-week rotation in the Trauma Unit at the Pelonomi Hospital that they received certificates acknowledging their exceptional work ethic. 

The students started clinical training in a hospital setting and the Trauma Unit was their second block. This is the second group of third-year students at the unit following strict COVID-19 lockdown rules.

One of those impressed by the student doctors is Prof Andre Loubser, head of the Department of Trauma, and a certified trauma surgeon with years of experience and a passion for teaching. He said the type of doctors these students will become one day will be moulded through these clinical years and he wanted to encourage them to keep on building on these characteristics.

Taking matters into their hands

Dr Hennie Smit, a Medical Officer working in the Trauma Unit of Pelonomi Hospital, says during the students’ time in the unit the house doctor running the ward was on sick leave for a week. The group took matters into their hands and stood in for the house doctor. 

“They came in earlier to make sure all the results were in the file of the new admissions and they helped us with the administrative part of the ward work. Besides that they showed immense enthusiasm. You would always find them being proactive about patient management and acquiring new skills.

“It was a treat teaching them. They have all the components of one day becoming professionals and leaders in their field. There was compassion, dedication, teamwork and a positive attitude. It is contagious,” says Dr Smit.

Thankful for the acknowledgement 

The semester six group students, Abigail van Neel, Carli van Onselen, Gabriela von Eschwege, Zelmay October, Christi Snyman, Dian Honiball, Hasun Jang and Sebastiaan Pauw impressed the consultants immensely.  

Pauw, one of the students, said he is grateful that the doctors went out of their way to acknowledge them.. “It is all thanks to the group’s hard work,” said Pauw. 
“I appreciate that they are keeping an eye on us and taking the time to see how we are performing. It is a sign that proves that hard work and willingness to learn will have consequences. My father always says: ‘Wat jy met trane saai, sal jy met vreugde oes’. Hard work will eventually pay off. But it also matters how you work, and your attitude towards the work and other people.”

Pauw said the training was hard work and sacrifices had to be made in order to be where they are today. “It is not all fun and games, but if you find purpose and meaning in your work it gives you a sense of happiness and belonging because you feel you are working towards your purpose,” he said.

UFS medical students
(Hasun Jang, Carli, Carli van Onselen, Zelmay October and Christi Snyman are also part of the group that impressed the doctors
in the unit. Photo: Supplied)

Ready for the unexpected

“Motivating yourself you should have a positive and willing attitude and the person next to you will also try to do the same, and in turn affect you in the same way. There is a sense of purpose and calling that will make you feel you have to do what you have to do, because that is why you are here,” he concluded.  

Dr Smit says the pandemic has left damage and challenges that the medical fraternity needs to work through, but it has taught them to be prepared. “It’s like that in the Trauma Unit. We don’t know which patient to expect next through the ambulance doors. We see hope, especially when encountering such a special group of students. We can rest assured they will be ready for the unexpected.”

News Archive

UV vestig hom afgelope eeu as leier op verskeie terreine
2004-05-11

Michelle O'Connor - Volksblad - 11 Mei 2004

Ondank terugslae nou 'n 'gesonde volwassene'

HOEWEL die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) vanjaar sy eeufees vier en met 23 000 studente die grootste universiteit in die sentrale deel van die land is, was dié instelling se geboorte glad nie maklik nie. MICHELÉ O'CONNOR het met prof. Frederick Fourie, rektor, oor die nederige begin van dié instelling gesels.

DIE behoefte aan 'n eie universiteit in die Vrystaat het reeds in 1855, kort ná die stigting van Grey-kollege, kop uitgesteek.

Grey se manne het hulleself teen 1890 begin voorberei om die intermediêre B.A.-eksamens af te lê. Dié eksamen het hulle toegang gegee tot die tweede jaar van 'n B.A.-graad aan die destydse University of the Cape Good Hope, nou die Universiteit van Kaapstad.

"Presidente F.W. Reitz en M.T. Steyn het destyds albei die stigting van 'n universiteit hier bepleit. Die grootste rede was sodat die seuns van die Vrystaat nie weggestuur word nie.

"Dié twee se droom is op 28 Januarie 1904 bewaarheid toe ses studente hulle onder dr. Johannes Bril, as hoof/rektor van Grey-kollege, vir die graad B.A. ingeskryf het. Dié graad is aanvanklik deur die Kaapse universiteit toegeken.

"Net die klassieke tale soos Latyns en Grieks, die moderne tale, Nederlands, Duits en Engels, filosofie, geskiedenis, wiskunde, fisika, chemie, plant- en dierkunde is aanvanklik aangebied.

"Die UV se geboue het gegroei van 'n klein tweevertrek-geboutjie wat nou naby Huis Abraham Fischer staan, en verblyf in die Grey-kollege se seunskoshuis," sê Fourie.

Volgens hom is die universiteit se eerste raad en senaat tussen 1904 en 1920 saamgestel. Die eerste dosente is aangestel en die eerste geboue opgerig. "Dié tyd was egter baie moeilik.

"Die instelling het teen 1920 net 100 studente gehad en was geldelik in die knyp. Daar was geen vaste rektor nie en geen vooruitgang nie. Vrystaatse kinders is steeds na ander universiteite gestuur.

"Ds. J.D. Kestell, rektor van 1920 tot 1927, het egter dié instelling finaal gevestig.

"Hy het self studente van oor die hele Vrystaat gewerf en geld by onder meer kerke en banke ingesamel. Kestell het selfs Engelse ouers oortuig om hul kinders na die Greyuniversiteitskollege (GUK) te stuur en teen 1927 het dié instelling met 400 studente gespog.

"In die tydperk tussen 1927 en 1950 het die GUK weer verskeie terugslae beleef.

"In dié tyd was dit onder meer die Groot Depressie en die Tweede Wêreldoorlog. Die armblanke-vraagstuk het regstreeks op studente en dosente ingewerk en die politieke onderstrominge van dié tyd het die instelling ontwrig.

"Die GUK het egter oorleef en die Universiteitskollege van die Oranje-Vrystaat (UKOVS) is in 1935 gebore," sê Fourie.

Hy sê in dié tyd is verskeie fakulteite gevestig en teen 1950 het die UKOVS met 1 000 studente gespog.

Teen 1950 het dit 'n onafhanklike universiteit geword en die naam is verander na die Universiteit van die OranjeVrystaat (UOVS).

Dié tydperk is gekenmerk deur Afrikaner- en blanke selfvertroue en heerskappy. Studentegetalle het tot 7 000 in 1975 gegroei en heelwat vooruitgang het in dié tyd plaasgevind.

"Tussen 1976 en 1989 sukkel dieuniversiteit weer met onder meer ekonomiese krisisse, die land se politieke onstabiliteit en word die UOVS geï soleer.

"Een ligpunt in dié tyd is die toelating van die eerste swart studente, die nuwe Sasol-biblioteek en die fakulteit teologie wat die lig sien.

"Tussen 1990 en vanjaar het die UOVS verskeie op- en afdraandes beleef. Die universiteit doen nie net die eerste stappe van transformasie nie, maar begin ook aan 'n beleid van multikulturaliteit werk.

"Die UOVS se naam verander in 1996 na die Universiteit van die Vrystaat/University of the Free State en in 2001 word die Sotho-vertaling bygevoeg.

"Geldelike druk en probleme neem drasties toe en personeel word gerasionaliseer.

"Teen 2000 begin die UV met 'n draaistrategie en studentegetalle neem tot meer as 23 000 toe," sê Fourie.

Hy sê die UV het die afgelope eeu nie net verskeie terugslae oorleef nie, maar homself ook op verskeie gebiede as 'n leier gevestig.

Die universiteit behaal sy eie geldelike mikpunte, neem 'n nuwe taalbeleid van veeltaligheid aan en herbelê in personeel.

Die instelling inkorporeer die kampusse van die Vista- en Qwaqwa-universiteit en groei internasionaal.

Die UV vestig ook fondamente van 'n institusionele kultuur van verdraagsaamheid, geregtigheid en diversiteit.

"Die baba het in die afgelope eeu 'n gesonde volwassene geword."

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