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UFS academics make a mark at the All Together Better Health Conference in Qatar

17 November 2023 | Story Reuben Maeko | Photo SUPPLIED

Prof Nyoni, Dr Omar Mohamed Al-Ansari and Dr James Campbell — Prof Nyoni hands over the Winterthur Doha Interprofessional Declaration to the President of Qatar University Dr Omar Mohamed Al-Ansari and the WHO Director for Health Workforce Dr James Campbell at the All Together Better Health Conference in Doha, Qatar.

A delegation of five academics from the University of the Free State (UFS) made significant contributions at the recently concluded All Together Better Health Conference (ATBH) in Doha, Qatar. Led by Prof Champion Nyoni, Senior Researcher in the UFS School of Nursing and current Chairperson of Interprofessional.Global, the team showcased their research to an international audience, further solidifying UFS’s commitment to advancing interprofessional education and collaborative practices.

Engagement at the Conference

The esteemed UFS academics, including Dr Lizemari Hugo-van Dyk (School of Nursing), Dr Anke van der Merwe (School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences), Dr Riaan van Wyk (Clinical Skills and Simulation Unit), and Dr Benjamin Botha (Computer Science and Informatics), actively participated in the conference, presenting their research findings to over 600 delegates from around the world. The ATBH Conference brought together students, educators, researchers, and policymakers with a shared goal of advancing interprofessional education and collaborative practices.

UFS’s leading role in Interprofessional Education

Interprofessional education (IPE), the focal point of the conference, involves collaborative learning among students from multiple health and social care professions. The UFS has been a trailblazer in the IPE domain, boasting a robust IPE programme that has been running successfully for nearly a decade.

Leadership excellence by Prof Nyoni

Prof Nyoni, as the Chair of Interprofessional. Global, played a pivotal role in the conference, showcasing leadership and communication excellence on a global scale. Interprofessional. Global is a confederation of regional networks worldwide purposed to embed IPE as part of mainstream training for the health workforce globally. His welcome address during the grand opening ceremony, attended by esteemed dignitaries including Her Highness Sheika Moza bint Nasser, the President of Qatar University, and the Director for Health Workforce at the World Health Organization (WHO), marked a momentous occasion. Moreover, Prof Nyoni presented the Winterthur-Doha Interprofessional Declaration to Qatar University and the WHO, symbolically endorsing IPE as a strategy to enhance global health outcomes.

The Winter-Doha Interprofessional Declaration

Explaining the significance of the Winter-Doha Interprofessional Declaration, Prof Nyoni expressed his excitement, stating, “I am thrilled that the World Health Organisation was forthcoming to receive this declaration – symbolically endorsing IPE as a strategy to enhance our health outcomes.” He added that this declaration would influence global efforts towards true IPE integration, with global representatives within the IPE community contributing to this milestone.

Research presentations by UFS Academics

The UFS academics delivered impactful presentations at the conference. Drs Hugo-van Dyk and Botha, along with Prof Nyoni, discussed “An Online Programme for Clinical Facilitators in Health Professions Education: A missed opportunity for IPE.” Additionally, they presented on desktop-based virtual reality to enhance role clarification in interprofessional education. Drs Van der Merwe and Van Wyk, along with Prof Nyoni, presented “Educator needs regarding a simulation debriefing programme: A missed opportunity for interprofessional practice at a South African University.”

Global collaboration and appreciation

Dr Botha, a member of the African Interprofessional Education Network (AfrlPEN), expressed appreciation for the opportunity, stating, “We have made good milestones globally and we are committed to continue to impact and influence the global space.” Dr van der Merwe echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the chance to connect with like-minded professionals worldwide and expressing gratitude to the UFS for facilitating this opportunity.

Closing thoughts

The UFS delegation’s active participation at the ATBH Conference not only underscores the university's commitment to advancing interprofessional education but also reinforces its global leadership in this critical domain. The contributions made at this prestigious event exemplify the UFS’s dedication to collaborative practices that enhance healthcare outcomes on a global scale.

Dr Lizemari Hugo-van Dyk, Dr Anke van der Merwe, Dr Bennie Botha, Prof Champion Nyoni, Dr Riaan van Wyk- The UFS team at the All Together Better Health Conference in Doha, Qatar

Closing panel of the ATBH conference 2023

Her Highness Sheika Moza bint Nasser at the 11th ATBH conference

Dr Champion Nyoni delivers the keynote address.

News Archive

UFS hosts simulation workshop

2012-12-03

Photo: Renè-Jean van der Berg
3 December 2012

The University of the Free State’s School of Nursing, in partnership with the Drexel University’s College of Nursing & Health Profession in Philadelphia in the USA, are hosting a simulation workshop at the Bloemfontein Campus from Monday 26 November – Friday 30 November 2012. The presenters include Prof. Leland Rockstraw, Dr Linda Wilson, Ms Carol Okupniak and Mr John Cornele. These knowledgeable simulation experts run a successful simulation facility for health-care profession students. Prof. Leland Rockstraw and Dr Linda Wilson have recently published a book on simulation; Ms Carol Okupniak writes a regular column in a journal, Clinical Simulation in Nursing and Mr John Cornele is well known in the USA for presenting exciting workshops on medical moulage. Moulage refers to “medical make-up”

Drexel University has offered this very popular workshop in simulation repeatedly since August 2010 at the Philadelphia Campus. This week’s workshop is the 1st international event and the first simulation training in South Africa. Funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies made it possible for the School of Nursing at the University of the Free State to host the workshop. Participants are educators from different health-care professions from higher educational institutions from most of the provinces in South Africa and from Botswana. The workshop will cover a comprehensive theoretical background of simulation in health professions, best practices and provide an opportunity for hands-on experience in human patient simulation (HPS) and standardized patient (SP). This will be a first for South Africa. Participants will gain insight in learning strategies to promote a clinically safe learning environment and promote adult experiential learning behaviours.

During this workshop, participants will make use of the new high-fidelity technology in the Authentic Learning facility at the UFS’ School of Nursing.

According to Prof. Yvonne Botma from the UFS School of Nursing, this workshop will equip the health-care profession’s educators with skills to assist their students in linking theory and practice. Simulation will enable students in health care to provide safe patient care with confidence.

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