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Prof Gert van Zyl appointed Chair of SA Committee of Medical Deans

19 January 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), Prof Gert van Zyl, was appointed as the Chairperson of the South African Committee of Medical Deans (SACOMD).

Prof Van Zyl, who has been a member of the SA Committee of Medical Deans since 2001, says it is a privilege and a highlight to again serve the health sciences academic community in this very dynamic and special time for medical schools.

He is especially looking forward to working with a brilliant team of deans and leaders in SACOMD, to build on the achievements of the past, and to excel in those areas that they have collectively decided to pursue for the future.

Taking on the role of Chairperson of SACOMD once more, leading with an outstanding team and a shared vision, signifies a special moment in his career, particularly as he approaches the conclusion of a fulfilling journey as dean. During his tenure, Prof Van Zyl was dedicated to actively contributing to stakeholders in the health sciences arena, including the academic community, SACOMD, as well as staff and students at the university.

He is of the opinion that this position brings exceptional value to both the faculty and the university. “It aligns with their collective vision of academic excellence across undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and learning as well as research,” he states.

SACOMD’s strategy for 2024

The Committee’s goal is to facilitate the optimisation and transformation of academic activities in Health Sciences faculties in order to meet the healthcare, research, and social imperatives of the country.

During a strategic session held in 2023, SACOMD determined the following objectives that align with their goal. According to Prof Van Zyl, they will strive to embrace collaboration, establish trust-based relationships among its members, seek proactive and consensus-driven decision-making, share information (drawing knowledge and insights from each other) to collectively advance thought leadership, and leverage their position as an influencer for improved health sciences training and strengthened health systems.

He says there are some exciting trends in a number of areas that will play an important role in advancing medical and health sciences. This includes the role of artificial intelligence, simulation, and robotic surgery in the academic health sciences arena.

As a committee, they will also look at the establishment of work-based assessment as a requirement in the postgraduate training environment of medical specialists in South Africa, the role of higher education academia in a National Health Insurance (NHI) system, as well as improving undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and learning. “All these activities are already guided by a set of detailed actions, responsibility areas, and academic outcomes,” he says.

Furthermore, they will provide support for new medical schools in order to serve the country in producing excellent health professionals. In doing so, they plan to create a more sustainable funding environment, improve the world-class status of training in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and influence important clinical training platforms to support the academic health sciences agenda.

Patients is our first priority

Although operating on a strategic level in serving the health sciences community, Prof Van Zyl also shares his thoughts with students who aspire to pursue a career in this field. “Choose a career for the right reasons. Do not forget that your patients are your first priority in everything you do. Make the most of the opportunity if you are in the privileged position to be selected to study and build a career in health sciences,” he says.

He adds that resilience is an important characteristic when deciding to pursue a career in the medical field. According to him, it is also key to be a team player, have sound mental and spiritual health, and to have compassion in everything you do as a health sciences professional.

“Play this role as a team member, with the oath you have taken and with the Declaration of Geneva’s emphasis on the welfare of patients as your compass. Live this out in your daily professional activities. You are part of a group of professionals known for healing and caring for communities. Play the role required.”

“Mother Theresa said, ‘I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.’” “Create your own ripples!” Prof Van Zyl urges aspiring medical professionals.

News Archive

A new dawn for student governance

2011-09-02

Our SRC presidents: Richard Chemaly (Bloemfontein Campus) and Bongani Ncgaca (Qwaqwa Campus)
Photo: Hannes Pieterse

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The successful and peaceful completion of the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Student Representative (SRC) elections 2011 herals a new dawn for student governance with the announcement of the results today (1 September 2011).

The SRC elections at the Qwaqwa Campus were completed on 25 August 2011, while the elections at our Bloemfontein Campus took place on 29 and 30 August 2011.

“A new dawn heralds a new day when Richard Chemaly, the son of Lebanese immigrants becomes President of an SRC, as elected by students from all racial backgrounds and from across the student body at large. A new day has arrived when candidates could have won voter support across racial lines; a new day is here when all SRC members are now recognised leaders on the basis of academic accountability,” the Dean of Student Affairs, Mr Rudi Buys, says.

A new dawn has arrived; firstly, insofar as student elections for the choice of student leaders at the UFS now proceed according to a non-racial and a non-party political basis.

Not only did the SRC elections at both the Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses achieve its required quorum, with 31% (4 729 votes) and 50% (2 112 votes) voter turnout, respectively, but the SRC elected by students at the Bloemfontein Campus is 55% black and 45% white, and 60% female and 40% male. The numbers of votes gained by successful candidates also indicate that voters from all racial backgrounds have voted for their candidates of choice.

Secondly, a new dawn has arrived insofar as student governance occupied by only some student groups claiming to speak on behalf of all students has made way for direct voting for candidates by the broad student body and the threefold increase of student governance structures on campus.

Not only did all students at our Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campuses (a total of 15 173 and 4 257, respectively) have the opportunity to participate in voting directly, but nine additional Student Councils were established at our Bloemfontein Campus that each holds an ex officio seat on the SRC and allows for student governance in all the major student sectors of the student body, such as for postgraduate students, international students and all categories of student associations.

The various councils now established include the Student Academic Affairs Council, the Student Associations Council, the Postgraduate Student Council, the International Student Council, the Student Media Council, the Residences Student Council, the Commuter Student Council and the Rag Community Service Fundraising and Service Councils. In addition, all faculties also introduced student representative structures at departmental and faculty level in 2011 to ensure student participation in faculty management and governance.

The SRC members at the Bloemfontein Campus are:

Elective portfolios:
President: Mr Richard Chemaly
Vice-President: Mr Lefata David Maklein
Secretary: Ms Matshepo Ramokgadi
Treasurer: Mr Werner Pretorius
Arts & Culture: Ms Alta Grobelaar
Accessibility & Student Support: Mr William Clayton
First-generation Students: Ms Petre du Plessis
Media, Marketing & Liaison: Ms Biejanka Calitz
Sport: Mr Bonolo Thebe
Student Development & Environmental Affairs: Ms Busisiwe Madikizela
Transformation: Ms Qaqamba Mhlauli

Ex officio portfolios:
Dialogue & Ex officio: Associations Student Council: Mr Anesu Ruswa
Academic Affairs & Ex officio: Academic Affairs Student Council: Mr Jean Vermaas
Residence Affairs & Ex officio: Campus Residences Student Council: Ms Mpho Mokaleng
City student Affairs & Ex officio: Commuter Student Council: Ms Annemieke Plekker
Postgraduate Affairs & Ex officio: Postgraduate Student Council: Ms Glancina Mokone
International Affairs & Ex officio: International Student Council: Mr Pitso Ramokoatsi
Student Media Affairs & Ex officio: Student Media Council: Ms Nicole Heyns
RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Fundraising Council: Ms Iselma Parker
RAG Community Service & Ex officio: RAG Community Service Council: Ms Motheo Pooe

In the Qwaqwa elections, SASCO achieved 36,84% of the vote, with SADESMO, PASMA and NASMO each achieving 29,73% and 18,56% and 12,74%, respectively .

Mr Bongani Ncgaca was elected as the President of the SRC at our Qwaqwa Campus, while the names of the SRC members at the campus will be announced on 7 September 2011.

The Central SRC will be established on 8 September 2011 by a joint sitting of the two SRCs.

The successful completion of the SRC elections at the Bloemfontein Campus follows a yearlong review process of student governance by a Broad Student Transformation Forum (BSTF) that consists of 59 delegations from student organisations and residences. The BSTF adopted independent candidacy for elective portfolios and additional student councils to provide ex officio seats on the SRC as the template for student governance, following the consideration of a series of benchmarking reports on student governance nationally and internationally.

The UFS Council adopted the new SRC Constitution, as drafted and submitted by the BSTF, on 3 June 2011.

Media Release
1 September 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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