Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Months
January February March April July May June August September October November December
Previous Archive
01 March 2023 | Story Kian Terwin | Photo Supplied
bone marrow drive
From the left: Dr M Moller, Dr C Steyn (Clinical Haematology), Dr N Motloung, Dr J Malherbe (Head of Clinical Unit: Clinical Haematology), Dr A van Marle (Haematopathologist), Dr E Bowen, Dr Q van Staden, and Dr T Gutu
Every 72 minutes, someone in South Africa is diagnosed with a blood cancer or blood disorder such as leukaemia, aplastic anaemia, and sickle cell disease. Often, a blood stem-cell transplant from a matching donor is their only hope for a cure.

The University of the Free State, in association with PathCare and DKMS Africa, will run a bone marrow donation registration drive from 1 to 3 March 2023. With this drive, we hope to set new records in bone marrow donation registration. The process is a simple, non-painful swab in your mouth and filling out a form that will take about two minutes.  

During this drive, blood stem-cell donors will be recruited for the DKMS Africa registry, so that patients in need of a life-saving stem cell transplant can find matching donors. Everyone (students and staff) is welcome and will be rewarded with chocolate for their registration. In addition, our goal is also to establish a community of well-informed and committed stem-cell donors.

The UFS hosted its first donor recruitment drive in October 2022, recruiting 434 donors. This was record-breaking, since other universities did not reach this number of registrations. We aim to surpass the previous year’s registrations, since recruitment will take place on the Bloemfontein Campus and in the Faculty of Health Sciences. 

The drive will take place on the following days:
Wednesday 1 March 2023:  Thakaneng Bridge 
Thursday 2 March 2023:   Thakaneng Bridge 
Friday 3 March 2023:  Francois Retief Foyer 

Let us fight THE FIGHT AGAINST BLOOD CANCER and other BLOOD DISORDERS. Come and register as a blood stem-cell donor. The more donors we have on the registry, the greater the chance of helping people who need a life-saving stem cell transplant. TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE.

News Archive

“A night of celebration” – Dr Van der Merwe
2016-05-04

Description: “A night of celebration” – Dr Van der Merwe Tags: “A night of celebration” – Dr Van der Merwe

The University of the Free State Faculty of Health Sciences held its annual prize function on 11 April, to celebrate the achievements of its top students from the three schools within the Faculty. Dr Lynette van der Merwe, undergraduate programme director at the School of Medicine, described the night as a celebration of success on many fronts.

The School of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health Professions gave students various awards, medals, and trophies for their academic performance and achievements in 2015.

Students encouraged to seize the day

Professor William Rae, Head of Medical Physics at the School of Medicine, was the occasion’s guest speaker. He encouraged students to use the limited time each one of them has in the world to the best of their abilities by always seizing the day. “As prize winners, be leaders, changers in the world. Seek more, appreciate diversity, and mingle with people different from you; always overflowing with joy,” concluded Prof Rae.

Best overall students

Belinda Meyer received the award for best final-year student in the School of Allied Health Professions. Hailing from Potchefstroom, Meyer obtained her Bachelor in Occupational Therapy degree with distinction, and was nominated as the top achiever of her year.

In the School of Medicine’s undergraduate medical programme, Pieter Jan Louw was recognised as the final-year student with the highest academic achievement in all study years. He went on to receive his degree cum laude.

Michelle Horvath, a BSocSc Nursing student, received an award for being the student who displayed the most professional growth during her training. Her years of study were described as being characterised by perseverance and a sense of duty and professionalism.

And lastly, the trophy for the student with the best results in a first Bachelor’s degree in the Faculty was awarded to Karl Nicholas Sachse, who completed his degree in BMedSc (Radiation Sciences) cum laude. Recognised as one of the top five students in his first, second, and third years of study, Sachse is currently doing his BMedSc Honours in Medical Physics.

The evening carried with it its own special ambiance as achievements were celebrated by students, their families, and staff members from the Faculty.

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