Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

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

UFS council elects Nwaila and Hancke

2005-03-15

Dr Charles Nwaila, Superintendent-General of Education in the Free State, was elected Vice-chairperson of the UFS Council and Judge Faan Hancke was re-elected as Chairperson today.

According to the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, the election of Dr Nwaila is an important achievement for the UFS as Dr Nwaila is a well known leader in education in the Free State.

Dr Nwaila pledged to work constructively with the UFS council and management to ensure that the UFS benefits all people of the province and the country.

The appointments are valid for a term of three years from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2008.

The elections took place at the quarterly meeting of the UFS Council where a number of other key transformation steps were approved.

The Council approved a Strategic Plan for the UFS which reflects a renewed focus on transformation of the institution, calling it an important roadmap for the future of the UFS.

According to Prof Fourie, the Strategic Plan tried strike a balance between continuity and change, addressing the need to remain an excellent university in an ever-changing context and environment.

Prof Fourie said transformation had many aspects and dimensions and could not be reduced to an issue of numbers.

The Strategic Plan identifies five strategic priorities and corresponding challenges in the next phase of transformation.

The priorities are:

quality and excellence
equity, diversity and redress
financial sustainability
regional co-operation and engagement.
outward thrust

Prof Fourie said that besides the five strategic priorities the plan also reflected concrete actions and interventions to address them.

He said the renewed focus on transformation is embedded in the priorities and specific actions that are identified.

The Council congratulated the management for the roadmap and for the achievements that have already been achieved in terms of transformation.

In order to draft a comprehensive Transformation Plan that will give substance to certain aspects of the UFS Strategic plan – or roadmap – the Council approved the establishment of a Transformation Plan Team.

The team will consist of about 16 people, which includes the two coordinators, Prof Teuns Verschoor, Vice-Rector: Academic Operations, and Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs.

According to Prof Verschoor, the team was chosen and approved by the Executive Management earlier for the individual contributions that they could make.

While the individuals do not represent particular constituencies on campus they are a very diverse group of persons in terms of race, gender and various sections of the campus and the satellite campuses.

Prof Fourie, said there was an urgency and importance attached to the work of the Transformation Plan Team.

He said that while the team must produce a plan within a tight deadline, the task must be carried out very well, which could mean different stages in the work of the team.

According to the Rector, the UFS must take the lead in best practice transformation, while not underestimating the complexity of the issues facing the UFS.

The full list of names will be finalized soon.

MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by: Mnr Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cel: 072 207 8334
Tel: (051) 401-2749
11 Maart 2005

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

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