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UFS pays tribute to Prof Bob Frater

20 February 2024 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo SUPPLIED

The Robert WM Frater Cardiovascular Research Centre (the Frater Centre) at the University of the Free State (UFS) received the sad news of the passing of Prof Robert (Bob) Frater at the age of 95 on 29 January 2024 in New York.

“Prof Frater was and will continue to be regarded as an international icon in heart surgery, especially in mitral valve repair where he described the use of artificial chordae, which is still the international standard today. Since 2006, he has been intimately involved in the establishment of the research programme in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the UFS, which culminated in the establishment of the Frater Centre in 2015. This would not have been possible without the combined efforts of the UFS and the generous financial support by Glycar – a Pretoria-based company established by Prof Frater,” says Prof Francis Smit, Director of the Robert WM Frater Cardiovascular Research Centre and Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the UFS.

Prof Frater was born in Cape Town and attended Bishops Diocesan College from 1937 to 1946. He excelled at school, both academically and as a sportsman. He was a prefect, captained the tennis team, and played first team rugby. He studied medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT), achieving a first class in Surgery. He qualified as a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Mayo Clinic and after a stint back in Cape Town, spent the rest of his illustrious career at the Einstein and Montefiore university hospitals in New York. Despite this distance, Prof Frater always maintained and cherished his South African roots, palpably demonstrated by his notable collection of Africana books and art.

“He was an inspiring mentor and educator, and constructively influenced generations of cardiothoracic surgeons trained at the UFS and internationally. His enthusiasm for scientific research and deep understanding of heart valves and tissue engineering have largely determined the research focus of the Frater Centre to this day. He received an honorary doctorate in Medicine from the UFS in 2011 in recognition of his immense contributions to cardiothoracic surgery during his lifetime. Apart from his international recognition and awards, the other outstanding award he received and cherished in South Africa, was the Robert Gray Medal from his old school, Bishops Diocesan College,” says Prof Smit.

At the UFS, he was Prof Smit’s promotor for his PhD on human heart valve transplants (homografts) and inspired an additional five PhD studies (four of which addressed tissue engineering, and one in re-designing a poppet mechanical heart valve, which was named the Frater valve). Studies on heart valve mechanics and hydrodynamics conducted at the Frater Centre in support of these valve developments resulted in three cum laude Master of Engineering degrees awarded by Stellenbosch University. Over time, the Robert WM Frater Cardiovascular Research Centre’s research output steadily increased in scope and quality, mainly due to the values of curiosity, excellence, integrated interdisciplinary collaborative teams, integrity, and mutual respect instilled by Prof Bob Frater.

“Prof Frater was always received ostentatiously in Bloemfontein. The registrars crowded around him, our research team was inspired, wisdom was gained from his vast experience in surgery and research, and no-one was left untouched by the deep humanity of this remarkable man. He was truly an exceptional individual, and a memorable South African.”

We wish to express our sincerest condolences and deepest sympathy to his wife Eileen, sons Hugh, Dirk, and the rest of the family,” says Prof Smit.

News Archive

Full week of graduation ceremonies at UFS in April

2015-04-10

Autumn always sees the UFS’s first graduation ceremony of the year on the Bloemfontein Campus.

From 14 – 17 April 2015, graduates will once again be rewarded for their hard work while top speakers will address them in the Callie Human Centre. There will be a ceremony at 09:00 and at 14:30 each day on all four days of the graduation.

The programme for the 2015 April Graduation is as follows:

Tuesday 14 April 2015:

Professor Himla Soodyall will be the speaker at both ceremonies on this day. Prof Soodyall is a Medical Scientist for the South African Institute for Medical Research. She is also a Principal Medical Scientist for the National Health Laboratory Service, and a Director for the Human Genome Diversity and Disease Research Unit at the University of Witwatersrand.

During the first ceremony of the day at 09:00, all diplomas/certificates and B degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be awarded. Only Honours degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be awarded at the 14:30 ceremony.

Wednesday 15 April 2015:

Wednesday will see Ndumiso Hadebe take the stage to address graduates at both ceremonies.

At the age of 23, Hadebe is the Founder and Managing Director of Master Frontiers Consulting, a firm that capacitates leaders and managers to achieve business goals through their people. He worked previously as a Researcher at Shanduka Black Umbrellas, a flagship enterprise and supplier development programme of the Shanduka Foundation.

He has been received numerous awards for excellence in leadership, such as the Sedibeng District Municipal Mayor’s Award for Service and Leadership. He is a Brand South Africa Ambassador and Read Educational Trust Ambassador.

All diplomas/certificates, B and Honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, except B Com degrees, will be awarded during the morning ceremony at 09:00. Later, at the 14:30 ceremony, only B Com degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences will be awarded.

Thursday 16 April 2015:

Multiple award winning South African TV presenter, Leanne Manas, will be the speaker at both Thursday ceremonies.

Manas has graced our screens for over a decade. Not many broadcasters can boast having had live TV experience, 5 days a week for 12 years. She is currently the anchor of SABC 2’s flagship breakfast programme, Morning Live. Leanne is a qualified Speech and Drama teacher. having studied at London Trinity College. She also has an Honours degree in English.
Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication Sciences will be awarded during the ceremony at 09:00. The 14:30 ceremony will have diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of the Humanities’ other qualifications except for Social Sciences and Communication Sciences.

Friday 17 April 2015:

Dr Maria Phalime will be the speaker at both ceremonies on Friday.

Phalime is a medical doctor and award-winning author. She practiced for a brief period as a general practitioner in South Africa and the United Kingdom, before leaving medical practice to pursue non-clinical interests. She has worked in trade and investment promotion, and has undertaken research and consulting in the areas of economic development and business facilitation.

Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of Education (CE, NPDE and ACE excluded) will be awarded during the ceremony at 09:00. Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Law, and Theology will be awarded at the 14:30 ceremony.

Click here for the simple layout of the 2015 April Graduation programme:
http://www.ufs.ac.za/adhoc-pages/2014-graduation-ceremony/graduation-ceremony

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