by Kegorapetse | Oct 2, 2018 | SMU Media, statements
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is saddened by the news of the passing away of the Honourable Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr. Edna Molewa, during the morning of 22 September 2018. We concur with the President of South Africa that her passing is a devastating loss to our nation and to the global community. The SMU honours her for her contributions and pioneering leadership in numerous spheres. The SMU community experiences the loss of the passing away of Dr. Molewa in a special way.
Members of the media are cordially invited to attend and cover Dr. Molewa’s memorial service on TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER 2018, at SMU Sports Complex (Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria), from 13h00.
The SMU was established on 16 May 2014 as one of three new post-apartheid universities in South Africa with a particular focus on health sciences education. The Honourable Dr. Molewa was inaugurated on 17 March 2017 as the first Chancellor of the SMU, and served in this capacity until her untimely passing.
Dr. Molewa fully and unconditionally embraced the vision and mission of the institution and contributed immensely during her short term of Office to the stabilization and development of the SMU. Despite the multiple responsibilities associated with her role in government and beyond, her calling to serve the SMU as Chancellor always found a special place. The SMU owes a great debt of appreciation to our Chancellor for representing the institution with passion and distinction, and for introducing the SMU as a fledgling institution to important national and international networks.
With the Nation, the SMU mourns the passing of Dr Molewa, and herewith conveys its deepest condolences to her family and friends. The University will in due course, after consultation with stakeholders and with due observance of the wishes of the Molewa family and national commemorative events, provide detail of University initiated memorial arrangements.
May the soul of our beloved Chancellor rest in eternal peace.
Download: Dr-Molewa-Memorial
Released by the SMU Marketing & Communication
Contact Dr Eric Pule, the Director, Marketing & Communication
Phone 012 521 4563
by Kegorapetse | Sep 26, 2018 | SMU Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University has been granted a Final Interdict against the participants in the protest action. The Court Order is attached hereto:
Final-Court-Interdict-26-Sept-2018
by Kegorapetse | Sep 16, 2018 | All News, Research
Publish or Perish…..
A University’s worth as a centre for generating knowledge is determined by the number and quality of publications produced, hence the popular phrase “publish or perish” that is used among academics. It is pertinent to note that research quality (which influences its impact) and not necessarily research productivity, also drives quality teaching and learning.
It is in this context that amongst others, SMU has, as its Research Strategic Objectives “Improve research impact and visibility” as well as to ‘Increase proportion of publications in high impact international journals”. To give effect to these strategic objectives, the Office of the DVC-Research, Postgraduate Studies and Innovation (RPSI) had this far, March – September 2018 planned and hosted four (4) capacity development workshops in the form of 4 days per session off campus “Writing Retreats”, targeting Emerging Researchers; PhD and Postdoctoral candidates, not to exclude Master’s students who are staff members within SMU.
The said workshops focused on, amongst others, “Publications Writing Retreat”; “Publications and PhD Thesis Writing Retreat”; “PhD and Grants Proposal Writing Retreat”; and recently “PhD and Thesis Writing Retreat” have proven to be very effective as captured by one of PhD candidate who attended the recent one, who is quoted as saying: “For me the retreat proved to be very useful as I managed to make a few strides and to immerse myself in my research study. The right momentum is building up. So I urge you colleagues not to give up on the seed that has already been planted. Let us nurture it so that we can reap the fruits at the end.”
These workshops were offered using a blend of local (SMU), national (Rhodes University; University of Pretoria) and international (Maastricht University, Netherlands) experts in the field of research, grants application and publications. To harness these and other such related activities aimed at providing continuous support to SMU research community, the office has recently launched an exclusive SMU Research Communique to communicate research related activities and opportunities. Watch the space
by Kegorapetse | Sep 7, 2018 | SMU Media
Media Alert
6 September 2018
For Immediate Release
Re: SMU 2018 Health Workers Update (Refresher Course)
Members of the media are kindly invited to SMU 2018 health workers update (Refresher Course), which will be held from Friday, 7 September to Sunday 9 September 2018, at the CSIR International Convention Centre, in Pretoria, commencing at 8h30.
The refresher course is an annual conference which is organised by the department of cardiology to give health professionals an opportunity to learn from specialists in the various fields to keep abreast of latest trends in the health care sector.
The health workers update is accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and at the end of the course, the attendees will be awarded Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Points.
Illustrious speakers have been lined up to address the following absorbing topics:
- Prof Goolam Mohamed – Update on Asthma Management
- Dr. M Mukansi – What is new in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Management
- Dr. D Spencer – HIV Update
- Dr. B Mashiloane – When to dialyse and when to choose conservative management
- Prof D S Magazi – Tips on headache management
- Dr. Olwolch – When is Epistaxis an Emergency
- Prof Olivier – How to avoid blindness
- Dr. E M Moshokoa- The stigma of “impotence”
- Dr. Z Nene- The stigma of a “Barren Uterus”
- Dr. Z Makhathini-Pre-and Post HIV exposure prophylaxis
- Dr. N Mnguni- What is good ethical practice
- Prof G A Ogunbanjo- When is “termination of life” or assisted death”
- Prof Z Koto- Laparoscopic surgical intervention: the pearls of wisdom
- Prof G Lindeque – How to avoid misdemeanours
- Mr N Ramuthaga/Ms T Sebata- Clinical trials in private practice
NB. The copy of the programme is attached to the media invite, for your perusal.
Refresher-Course-programme
Released by the SMU Marketing & Communication
Contact Dr Eric Pule, the Director, Marketing & Communication
Phone 012 521 4563
by Kegorapetse | Aug 21, 2018 | All News, Research
Media Alert
21 August 2018
For Immediate Release
The members of the media are hereby informed about the SMU’s Research days programme which commences on Tuesday 21 to 23 August 2018, at 8h15, in Clin Path Building (CP) Lecture Hall 3L001. The research event is a premier event of the university in which researchers present and subject their research papers to review by their peers, in various disciplines. Research is part of the core business of the university.
Among other highlights, there will be a keynote address by Prof Ayo-Yusuf, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Post Graduate Studies and Innovation. Prof Ayo-Yusuf is also a National Research Foundation B rated (NRF-B rated) Scientist. Ayo-Yusuf’s title is “Predatory Journals and Questionable Editorial Practices”.
Dr Debra Goff, who is an Infectious Disease Specialist, a founding member of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme and Director of Clinical Research for the Department of Pharmacy, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre (OSUWMC), Columbus, Ohio, USA, will deliver a presentation entitled “The global value and impact of collaborative research”, on 21 August 2018, at 10h30.
Dr Sechene Stanley Gololo, a senior lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, SMU, will do a presentation on “Towards optimization of health benefits from medicinal plants without genetic modifications”, on 21 August 2018, at 10h30.
Dr Nicola Page, a senior scientist who is head of the Virology Division of the Centre for Enteric Diseases at the National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD), will present on the title “Gastroenteritis in South Africa – an update”, on 21 August 2018, at 14h20.
A detailed programme of the event is hereto attached with a wide range of interesting titles to enable you to identify a title which will be of interest to you.
Released by the SMU Marketing & Communication
Contact Dr Eric Pule, the Director, Marketing & Communication
Phone 012 521 4563
