The College of Health Sciences honoured its top 36 students in the Schools of Clinical Medicine, Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, and Nursing and Public Health at a Tea with the Deans event.
The annual event recognises students’ academic and leadership achievements within the three Schools.
Founder of Tea with the Deans and Head of the Dermatology Department, Professor Ncoza Dlova, said the event was an opportunity to honour the students for their hard work and selflessness in serving their peers as student leaders.
Said Dlova: ‘Outstanding academic achievements without great personalities, warmth, compassion and emotional intelligence mean little. You can have distinctions, but if you don’t know what you stand for or the difference you want to make, your achievements are in vain because they are not about success but rather about the impact you will have.’
Interim Dean of the School of Clinical Medicine Professor Leonard Marais shared a study that evaluated how all the best-performing clinical units relied on good leadership. Marais said it was essential to acknowledge leaders because good leadership leads to excellent clinical outcomes. Encouraging students to put others first to become great leaders, he noted how the priority was to put patients first in the clinical space.
Dean and Head of the School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences Professor Musa Mabandla reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic demanded the University adapt to deliver its curriculum online, saying life was about adaption to avoid being left behind.
Dean and Head of the School for Nursing and Public Health Professor Anna Voce said it was a time to reflect on becoming better leaders, servers and competent and responsive healthcare workers. ‘This is a transitional period, particularly for final-year students as they embark into the world of work. I implore them to renew their commitment to doing the right thing, at the right time, doing it well and with dignity, meaning, discipline, dedication and kindness,’ Voce said.
Medical Students’ Representative Council Chair Ms Mbalenhle Mkhize said the event was a testament to what the students could achieve when dedication and talent were combined. Mkhize added how the world didn’t only require their skills and knowledge but also their empathy, compassion, courage and unique perspective.
Academic and peer recognition certificates were awarded to 18 Clinical Medicine students, 10 Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences students, and eight Nursing and Public Health students.
Second-year MBChB candidate Ms Andiswa Kubheka, fourth-year Nursing scholar Ms Babalwa Mbongo, and third-year Bachelor of Medical Science student Ms Nadine Parsotham shared how hard they had worked, how proud they were of their achievements and what their goals were as top-performing students.
In her vote of thanks, the Operations Manager for the School of Clinical Medicine, Ms Khwezi Khanyile, acknowledged the leadership of the Colleges for establishing a meaningful curriculum, the students for using the resources made available by the University, such as mentors and student counsellors to excel; the professional services staff for efficient administration of these academic programmes, and the organising committee for making the event possible.
Entertainment was provided by third year MBChB student, Mr Siyabonga Nceza.
Words: Hlengiwe Khwela
Photograph: Supplied
Caption: Tea with the Deans awards 36 top performing students.