by Lorato | May 21, 2024 | Media Statements
Media Advisory
Date: 21 May 2024
For Immediate Release
SMU Autumn Graduation Ceremonies will confer a total of 1324 qualifications
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University’s (SMU) Autumn Graduation Ceremonies will confer Degrees, and award Diplomas and Higher Certificates to students who have met the requirements for completion of their respective qualifications. This year’s graduation ceremonies coincide with the University’s 10th anniversary celebrations after it was established on the 16th May 2014, following the de-merger of the Medunsa Campus from the University of Limpopo. The ceremonies are scheduled to take place from the 22- 24 May 2024, at the SMU Sports Complex from 10h00.
The highlights of SMU graduations include 276 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery candidates who will be graduating. A total of 84 candidates will be graduating with a Cum Laude endorsement out of 1324 number of graduates. The ceremonies will also highlight the oldest and youngest graduates, including a top student with an average of 81,9% at the undergraduate level.
The quality and number of graduates strategically positions SMU to contribute to the transformation of the health system in South Africa and the continent through offering holistic and innovative health sciences education, which is relevant and responsive to societal needs.
For more details, please contact Dr Lusani Netshitomboni (Director: Communications and Marketing) at lusani.netshitomboni@smu.ac.za or Cell: 083 3965 885.
Issued by the Department of Communications and Marketing
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SMU 2024 Autumn graduations
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Created: 21-05-2024
Updated: 21-05-2024
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by Lorato | Oct 10, 2023 | Media Statements
Media Alert
Date: 10/10/2023
For Immediate use
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) to host a public lecture by the University of Johannesburg Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Letlhokwa Mpedi.
The university has a critical role to play in the creation of a platform for dialogue and to get involved in public discourse, particularly, as it relates to pertinent issues in society. As a result, on the 12 October 2023, SMU will host a public lecture to be delivered by the University of Johannesburg Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Letlhokwa Mpedi, with the following topic:
Exploring the ethics and legalities of artificial reproductive technology through an African lens This event will provide a platform for participants to engage on issues relating to Artificial Reproductive Technology.
Date : 12 October 2023 Venue:
Online: https://tinyurl.com/2mvyr35c
Time : 18h00 – 19h00
For media enquiries, please contact Dr Lusani Netshitomboni, Director: Communications and Marketing at lusani.netshitomboni@smu.ac.za
Cell: 083-3965-885.
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Media alert: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) to host a public lecture by the University of Johannesburg Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Letlhokwa Mpedi
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Created: 10-10-2023
Updated: 10-10-2023
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by Lorato | Aug 24, 2023 | Media Statements
Media Advisory
Date: 23/08/ 2023
For Immediate use
As part of Women’s Month commemorations, Sefako Makgatho Health Science University will be hosting the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. The event will afford a platform for SMU staff and students to engage on pertinent issues relating to women, children and persons living with disabilities.
The year 2023 marks the 67th anniversary since approximately 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings to protest against the extension of pass laws to women by the government of the time. The Women’s Month activities must therefore reflect on the current developments across different sectors of our society. As such, the university saw it fit to provide a platform for discourse as it relates to women, children and persons with disabilities.
This year’s Women’s Month is being commemorated under the overarching theme: “Accelerating socio-economic opportunities for women’s empowerment.” This is in acknowledgement of the fact that although great strides have been made towards the advancement of women, more work still needs to be done.
Date : 25 August 2023
Venue : SMU New Auditorium
Time : 10h00-12h30
For media enquiries, please contact:
Dr Lusani Netshitomboni
Director: Communications and Marketing
Email: lusani.netshitomboni@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0833965885
and
Ms Lorraine Shabangu
Media Liaison Officer: Office of the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities
Email: Lorraine.Shabangu@dwypd.gov.za
Cell: 0660806226
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Issued by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Media Advisory - Sefako Makgatho University - Womens Month 2023
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Created: 24-08-2023
Updated: 24-08-2023
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by Lorato | Jun 10, 2023 | Media Statements, SMU Media, statements
Media Statement
Date: 10 June 2023
For Immediate Release
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University has once again sent a group of 44 final year Physiotherapy students to the Comrades Marathon to provide pre and post marathon physiotherapy services to athletes that will be taking part in the close to 90 kilometer run taking place on Sunday 11 June 2023.
These students accompanied by three of their lecturers have already provided muscles pre –conditioning services, therapeutic massages and soft tissue mobilization services to athletes since yesterday Friday 09 June 2023 at the Comrades Marathon Expo centre in Durban.
Karabo Raphokoane, a lecturer in cardiothoracic rehabilitation explained that the SMU students under their supervision will also proceed and be stationed at the end point of the race on Sunday 11 June to provide post marathon services to athletes. “It is in this end tent where the students working with other professionals will do a lot of rehabilitation, deal with most severe muscle cramps, severe joint stiffness and also attend to cases of cardiothoracic emergencies where emergency physiotherapy will be provided and resuscitations performed if necessary”, she added.
Triage services are also performed by these students and their lecturers to ensure that patients are thoroughly checked to determine the urgency and nature of treatment they require at the finishing line. If the diagnosis indicate that they require urgent treatment, they can be referred to the medical section to get a drip or undergo cardiothoracic protectiveness where oxygen or any other treatment can be provided to protect their heart and lungs.
What these students do is linked to the training they receive during their studies at SMU as they are exposed to the different areas of Physiotherapy such as; neuromuscular, cardiothoracic sports, muscular skeletal sports and others. While runners would have done the necessary preparations that determined their fitness, Raphokoane warns that anything can happen in the middle of the race due to other environmental factors such as weather changes, runners catching flu and other illnesses and their cardiothoracic system may take a strain as a result of such conditions and advices them to be alert of such conditions.
Ntombenkosi Sobantu who also lectures the students in orthopedic rehabilitation explained that some athletes suffer acute injuries or fractures after the marathon as their muscles would have been overworked. The muscles react differently as if running away from an injury and get into a spasm as a protective reaction. The students will then ensure that the RICE method is applied where runners have to rest, use ice, perform compressions and elevation. “Mental and emotional strength is required for athletes to complete the marathon and athletes should work as a team and help one another along the journey. They need to realize that the body is connected and functions as a system”, added Ms Sobantu.
Ishmerelda Mabena-Segoe, a lecturer in Orthopedic Manipulative Therapy, with many years of experience in sports physiotherapy added that the profession should be seen as a first line profession and explained that all of these students are taught to diagnose during their training, through observation, assessment and testing and will be applying all they learned during training to handle runners at the end of the race.
The lecturers warned that Hypothermia cases are often seen at the end of the marathon where the body temperature of athletes drops below the level of where it should be and they appear vigorously shocked and in such cases, they assist the runners to restore their normal temperature and ensure they keep warm and release them once they are stable.
Issued by Communication and Marketing
For more details, please contact Dr Lusani Netshitomboni,
Director: Communication and Marketing at lusani.netshitomboni@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0833965885
Media Statement SMU students offer physiotherpay services at Comrades Marathon 2023 updated
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Created: 10-06-2023
Updated: 10-06-2023
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by Lorato | Oct 5, 2022 | Media Statements, statements
Media Statement
Date: 05 October 2022
For Immediate Release
Director General of the Department of Higher Education and Training Dr Nkosinathi Sishi paid a courtesy visit to the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University on 04 October 2022 at the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Mbati. The Vice-Chancellor used the occasion to provide a general update on SMU and this gave the DG a sense of the current status of the University, existing challenges and its future plans as espoused in the 2021- 2025 Strategic Plan which is being implemented. Accompanying the DG was the DDG University Education Dr. Marcia Socikwa.
The Vice-Chancellor took the DG on a tour of the Campus visiting the SMU MECRU unit, the proposed African Bioimaging Centre, the premium 2,000 beds student accommodation facility and the upgraded
Pharmacy Building.
SMU through the MECRU unit is currently conducting a Vaccination trial study sponsored by Sinovac/Numolux Group. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of two doses of CoronaVac® against confirmed symptomatic COVID-19 cases in children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years. The pilot study was launched in September 2021 and has successfully enrolled a total number of 370 participants as per the given target to the site. Other studies currently underway at MECRU include the following:
- CoVPN 3008 COVID 19 Vaccine (Mordena)
- VPM 1002 (Tuberculosis vaccine)
- SHERPA – SISONKE (J&J Vaccine), for booster shot of HCW with Mordena vaccine.
Moreover, the proposed African Centre for Bioimaging will house the state-of-the-art High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM) that has been purchased through joint funding from the Department of Science & Innovation, National Research Foundation,
Department of Higher Education and Training and SMU. The HRTEM has capabilities for elemental microanalysis, tomography and cryo-imaging which will allow the university to obtain high resolution images to amongst others, support research in the health sciences such as in nanomedicine and nanotoxicology.
Dr. Sishi expressed his appreciation on the work done so far by SMU and said the path the University has taken will lead to the realization of the vision driven by Prof Mbati. He was particularly impressed with efforts to improve research and development as well as progress made around the academic project in general. “We now have a broader picture of where you want to go as a University. My advice is that if you wish to move faster, find the right partners to work with, including international partners. I also want to give you our sincere affirmation that the department will support you”, said the DG.
Prof Mbati explained that SMU is on a new trajectory in line with its 2021-2025 strategic plan and that the academic project and the financial sustainability of the University are key priorities. He further elucidated that plans are underway to implement the approved new Business Model which will among other things allow for the commercialization of the SMU land which will in turn enable SMU to bring the much needed third stream income. The VC assured the DG that the University will account fully for every cent received.
Issued by Communication and Marketing
For more details, please contact Phaladi Seakgwe, Acting Director: Communication and Marketing at
phaladi.seakgwe@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0790751673
Media statement DHET DG visit to SMU fnl
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Created: 05-10-2022
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by Lorato | May 23, 2022 | Accolades and Achievements, Media Statements, statements
Media Advisory
Date: 23 May 2022
For Immediate Release
The year 2019 was the last year where higher education institutions hosted face to face graduation ceremonies due to the outbreak of Covid-19. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) was equally affected, with the 2020 and 2021 graduation ceremonies conducted virtually.
However, after the National State of Disaster was terminated by Cabinet on the 4th of April, the University will be hosting its first face-to-face graduation ceremonies. This year’s graduation ceremonies are scheduled to take place from the 25-27 May 2022 at the SMU Sports complex.
As indicated on the table below, a total of 1435 students will graduate, with a total of 16 Doctoral degrees in 4 of the 5 SMU Schools.
| SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
|
| Undergraduate Degrees |
411 |
| Honours Degrees |
107 |
| Masters Degrees |
12 |
| Doctoral Degrees |
8 |
| TOTAL |
538 |
|
|
| SCHOOL OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES |
|
| Undergraduate Degrees |
218 |
| Postgraduate Diplomas |
16 |
| Masters Degrees |
31 |
| Doctoral Degrees |
3 |
| TOTAL |
268 |
|
|
| SCHOOL OF PHARMACY |
|
| Higher Certificates |
4 |
| Undergraduate Degrees |
71 |
| Masters Degrees |
26 |
| Doctoral Degrees |
1 |
| TOTAL |
102 |
|
|
| SCHOOL OF MEDICINE |
|
| Higher Certificates |
6 |
| Undergraduate Degrees |
282 |
| Honours Degrees |
77 |
| Masters Degrees |
73 |
| Doctoral Degrees |
4 |
| TOTAL |
442 |
|
|
| SCHOOL OF ORAL HEALTH SCIENCES |
|
| Undergraduate Degrees |
73 |
| Postgraduate Diplomas |
4 |
| Masters Degrees |
8 |
| Doctoral Degrees |
0 |
| TOTAL |
85 |
| GRAND TOTAL |
1435 |
Issued by Communication and Marketing
For more details, please contact Dr Lusani Netshitomboni: Director Communication and
Marketing at Lusani.netshitomboni@smu.ac.za
Cell: 0833965885
Media Advisory SMU 2022 Graduations
