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UFS medical students impressed trauma doctors with their enthusiasm and proactive attitude

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.

(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

Statement on protest at the UFS

2005-03-04

Following a protest by student and non-student organisations today, the management of the University of the Free State (UFS) would like to place the following facts on record:

1. There is a well-documented process underway to further transform the UFS. At the official opening of the UFS on 4 February 2005 , the Rector and Vice-chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, announced that the UFS would draft a comprehensive Transformation Plan to guide the next phase of transformation at the institution.

The UFS appeals to student formations, staff associations, trade unions and other role-players to make a constructive input into this Transformation Plan.

The UFS management has been - and always will be - willing to engage with role-players and is prepared to do so even after today’s protest.

2. There is thus no regulation or policy prescription which separates students in hostels according to race.

The reality is that students exercise their freedom of choice as to which hostel they wish to be placed in. This was agreed upon by black and white students in 1997/8.

However, the unintended consequence and practice of this hostel placement policy has been that students themselves have tended to choose to stay in hostels which have over time become black hostels and white hostels.

This is a matter of concern for the management of the UFS as such a situation does not promote interaction across language, cultural and socio-economic groupings of students.

This matter is receiving attention and an intensive consultative process, which will include students, will be launched to review this policy.

The management is convinced that such interaction will enhance the learning experience of all students and sensitise them to the reality of a multicultural South Africa and a multicultural world.

3. No student organisation has been banned from operating at any of the three campuses of the UFS.

In the past few weeks, SASCO, the Young Communist League and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) have held meetings on all three campuses, namely the Qwaqwa campus, the Vista campus and the main campus.

There are also regular interactions between top management and the leadership of SASCO and the ANCYL on campus.

In fact, the UFS upholds the right of students and staff to associate freely and to organise themselves as they see fit.

The UFS also upholds the rights of staff and students to engage in legal and peaceful protests.

The management however remains committed to discussing issues that affect staff and students in a constructive manner and appeals to student organisations in this case to engage with management.

4. The issues of registration, fees, debt and financial aid are continually monitored, and interventions to assist students are made regularly. To assist as far as possible those academically deserving students who face financial difficulties, the UFS management has put in place a structure called the Monitoring committee that includes management and student representatives.

The purpose of the Monitoring Committee is to review the cases of individual students to determine how best they can be assisted.

This applies to the Qwaqwa campus, the Vista campus and the main campus.

It is generally the case that students who perform academically will not have any difficulty in obtaining financial assistance. However, according to the requirements of National Student Financial Scheme, students who perform poorly will have difficulty in obtaining such assistance.

5. With regard to student governance, the process to institute an inclusive Central Student Representative Council (SRC), on which all three campuses will be equitably represented, was launched in July 2004, and a preliminary constitution has just been drafted. At the same time an inclusive process to review certain elements of the constitution of the main campus SRC was initiated at the end of 2004. This process, which includes all relevant student organisations and structures, is planned to produce an outcome within the next couple of months.

6. There is no policy at the UFS that is based on racism or that discriminates on the basis of the race of students and staff.

As part of the building of a new institutional culture within the broader transformation process, the UFS management is determined to eradicate all elements of racism that may occur on its campuses, and has already instituted inclusive forums on campus to discuss the issue of values and principles for a non-racial university.

Issued by: Mr Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cell: 072 207 8334
Tel: (051) 401-2749
4 March 2005

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