The Dean and Head of UKZN’s School of Clinical Medicine (SCM), Professor Ncoza Dlova, paid tribute to academic and professional services staff members who worked around the clock to make teaching and learning for students and registrars a success at UKZN’s Medical School this year.

Dlova was speaking at a Staff Awards and Recognition Ceremony held virtually and in-person at the School’s Bongani Mayosi Lecture Theatre on World AIDS Day, where she also thanked SCM heads of departments currently working at the University and its teaching hospitals as well as the Medical Students Representative Council (MSRC) for their dedication and commitment in ensuring that the Medical School had a successful throughput of graduates.

The 17 award categories included: Best Academic Discipline; Emerging and Established Academic Awards, Best Professional Services Team, Best Service Delivery by Central Services, Best Service Delivery by College Staff Member, Best Service Delivery by Central Services, Community Engagement, REACHT Ambassador Awards, and various sub-categories applauding excellence in professional services.

The Dean said it was important to encourage staff to excel and to acknowledge their hard work because they often did not perceive that every employee from academics to clinicians, through to cleaning staff, made an invaluable contribution to the Medical School’s ecosystem, bringing a sense of cohesion and collegiality that puts the University on the front foot. ‘It takes a concerted effort from all us of to see the success of our students,’ she said.

Said Dlova: ‘Without acknowledgment, staff members do not know the impact they make through their work, and that is why the School will continue hosting these awards annually.’

Dlova wished the newly-appointed MSRC committee – comprising four females and two males – good luck and a productive year ahead, marked by excellence and an absence of student unrest.

Words and photo: Lunga Memela