Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is celebrating the doctoral achievement of Dr Ramadimetja Annah Lesunyane, Acting Head of the Department of Occupational Therapy, who has attained a Doctor of Philosophy specialising in Occupational Therapy from the University of Pretoria.
Her achievement comes as the Department of Occupational Therapy marks 50 years of existence, a milestone centred on transforming lives, empowering communities and shaping the future of the profession.
Dr Lesunyane’s doctoral research focused on an issue increasingly important to universities offering health sciences programmes: how to provide holistic support to students navigating demanding academic workloads and intensive professional training.
Her thesis, titled Development of holistic wellness guidelines for academic student support services at universities offering health sciences programmes, used a sequential exploratory four-phase methodology incorporating a scoping review, focus groups and an expert Delphi consensus study.
Grounded in the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) model, the study developed a comprehensive set of wellness guideline statements designed to address the broader student experience rather than focusing on academic performance alone.
“I believe that to truly help students manage stress and safeguard their mental health, institutional support must apply integrated support frameworks that address the cognitive, emotional, spiritual, environmental, occupational, financial, and social dimensions of their student lives,” said Dr Lesunyane.
“These guidelines will provide universities with a practical roadmap to optimise resources, enhance stress management, and shape resilient, well-rounded future health professionals.”
Her motivation for the research came from her experience as an educator and mentor in occupational therapy. She said she had witnessed students experiencing increasing levels of anxiety, depression and stress, compounded by academic pressures and delays in accessing support.
“My passion for student mental health support and my experience of mentoring students in occupational therapy education are what truly inspired this research,” she said.
Dr Lesunyane said the study was ultimately about developing practical and caring interventions for vulnerable students, adding that investing in student wellness could contribute to academic success as well as longer-term benefits for society and the economy.
The journey to completing the doctorate was not without challenges. Lengthy permission and data-collection processes, rejected manuscripts, and competing responsibilities contributed to unexpected delays. “Throughout the journey, I worked consistently and was encouraged by constant reference to a quote by Mahatma Gandhi that says, ‘Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will,’” she said.
She credited her supervisors, Dr Enos Ramano and Professor Karin van Niekerk, as well as her family and SMU’s capacity development grant, for supporting her doctoral journey.
For Dr Lesunyane, the achievement also carries profound personal significance. Raised in a rural village in Limpopo by parents who did not have the opportunity to pursue education, she described education as deeply personal. “Education is personal, as learning is not just business to me; it hits home,” she said.
As Acting Head of the department, Dr Lesunyane sees her leadership role as an opportunity to support staff and students through transparent communication, collaboration and shared responsibility.
Her doctoral achievement therefore adds another milestone to a 50-year departmental legacy while reinforcing SMU’s contribution to occupational therapy education, research and the development of healthier, more resilient health professionals.
By Dimakatso Modise
