The Department of Radiography at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has made 2025 a landmark year for community engagement, blending academic rigour with meaningful service. With projects spanning health awareness campaigns, career outreach, student wellness, and industry collaboration, the department has positioned itself as a leader in socially responsive education.
Clarity and confidence drive the message. As lecturer, Tebogo Baloyi, explains: “Education does not stop at the classroom door. Our mission is to ensure that students graduate not only with technical expertise, but also with a sense of purpose and responsibility to the communities they will serve.”
Among the year’s highlights was the department’s participation in the Gauteng Health Radiography Career Expo and school outreach visits to Raymond Mhlaba School. These events aimed to demystify radiography and inspire learners to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). By directly engaging with young audiences, students themselves became ambassadors for the profession, gaining confidence while motivating the next generation.
Health awareness was another central theme. The Breast Cancer Awareness campaign, a testament to the department’s ongoing commitment, together with the World Radiography Day initiative led by the Radiography Student Organisation, brings life-saving knowledge to underserved communities. Held annually in October, these events shine a spotlight on the indispensable yet often overlooked role of radiographers — working behind the scenes to enable accurate diagnoses and effective treatment.
The department also placed strong emphasis on student well-being and belonging. The innovative B RAD I Coffee Date, held recently, created a safe space for first-year students to connect, reflect, and share challenges. Ice-breakers, storytelling sessions, and mentorship activities turned a simple coffee gathering into a powerful intervention for mental health and academic adjustment. One student, Bophelo Seroma, described it as “the first time I felt truly seen and supported at university.”
Support extended beyond conversation. In collaboration with the School of the Kingdom Ministry, the department distributed 12 grocery hampers to financially vulnerable students. Such gestures, though modest, have a tangible impact on retention, concentration, and morale. “You cannot expect a student to excel academically when they are hungry,” Baloyi noted. “Our responsibility is holistic: mind, body, and spirit.”
In terms of professional development, the department’s partnership with industry leaders stood out. A Contrast Media Workshop, delivered with GE Healthcare and TecMed, gave third-year Bachelor of Diagnostic Radiography students rare hands-on exposure to advanced imaging technologies and patient safety protocols. Similarly, Siemens Healthineers sponsored the Beauty of Radiography workshop, where both staff and students explored emerging innovations such as artificial intelligence in imaging. These collaborations bridged theory and practice, aligning curriculum with the rapidly evolving demands of healthcare.
The department measures success not only by participation numbers but also by transformation. Feedback from final year students Neo Makgota and Allison Pepler reveals greater confidence, improved clinical skills, and a stronger sense of belonging. Community partners, too, have praised the department’s consistent presence and professionalism.
Looking ahead, the department plans to expand industry partnerships, increase outreach frequency, and introduce specialised workshops in interventional radiology and AI applications. Baloyi sums it up best: “Every initiative we launch is designed to answer a single question: how can we make radiography education more relevant, impactful, and humane?”
In 2025, the Department of Radiography has shown that great writing advice also applies to great teaching: clarity signals confidence, relevance beats cleverness, and one strong intervention can transform everything.
By Tumelo Moila
