Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University Appoints Dr Zweli Mkhize as Chancellor

by Kegorapetse | Apr 17, 2019 | SMU Media

At its meeting held on Friday, 29 March 2019, the Council of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences (SMU) elected Dr. Zwelini (Zweli) Lawrence Mkhize to the Office of the Chancellor of the SMU.

In this role, Dr. Mkhize will perform the following functions for the University as provided for in paragraph 6 of the SMU Statute (2016):

1. The Chancellor is the titular head of the University with no executive powers.
2. The Chancellor confers degrees and awards diplomas, certificates and other distinctions on behalf of the University.
3. In the absence of the Chancellor, degrees are conferred by the Vice-Chancellor or by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor; and diplomas and certificates are awarded by officials designated by the Council.
4. The Chancellor performs such other functions as assigned to him or her by the Council, subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (1).

Dr. Zweli Mkhize will serve a five-year term, i.e. from 11 April 2019 to 10 April 2024.

Details regarding the date of Dr. Mkhize’s installation as the Chancellor will be communicated to the University community and stakeholders at a later stage.
The SMU community is hereby requested to join me in welcoming Dr Zweli Mkhize to the University, and to wish him success in this important role, says Prof Chris de Beer.

For more details on Dr Mkhize’s profile, please follow this link: https://www.smu.ac.za/about-smu-sefako-makgatho-university/chancellor/

Applications for MSc Clinical Psychology 2020 are now open

by Kegorapetse | Apr 2, 2019 | SMU Media

Please follow the following steps in order to apply:

1. Download the MSc-Clinical-Psychology-2020-Application-Form and 2019-MSc-Clinical-Psychology-Course-guide
2. Complete the downloaded application form (as per instructions) and either courier or hand deliver the completed form to the Department of Clinical Psychology. [Please see address on the application form].
3. Ask your referee to complete the referee form and to send it directly to the administrative personnel of the Department of Clinical Psychology, Ms Brenda Ledwaba on brenda.ledwaba@smu.ac.za before the closing date.

Closing dates and application fees:

• All applications including referee forms should be submitted before 14 June 2019.
• No application fee is required at this initial stage
• All short listed candidates will be notified via email [provide a reliable email address.]
• Selections will take place from 15 – 19 July 2019.

Disclaimers: 

• Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Please note that if you provide any false information your application will be rejected immediately.
• Please note that admission into the MSc Clinical Psychology programme is subject to a selection process.

Important notice

• The department reserves the right not to make selections
• Only selected candidates will have to apply to the university administration department with the assistance of the departmental administrator after the selection process

Check list

Application form
Referee forms
Copy of qualifications
ID copy

SMU Conducts the first Bariatric Surgery (or weight loss surgery) at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH)

by Kegorapetse | Mar 14, 2019 | SMU Media

The first Bariatric Surgery (or weight loss surgery) Unit of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has been recently established at Dr. George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH). This collaboration between the Gauteng Department of Health and SMU Department of Surgery represents an important advance in bringing this type of surgery within reach of the poor. The surgery also represents the multidisciplinary approach to the management of a patient with morbid obesity where surgeons, physicians, anesthetists, psychologists and other disciplines all contribute to the initial screening, workup and ongoing management and surgery of these patients.

The Bariatric surgery workshop held at SMU provided a real-time information for the numerous attendees including professors, specialists and doctors from both the public and private sectors as well as students. Unit head Professor Zach Koto said, “The surgery includes a variety of procedures performed on people who have morbid obesity. The weight loss is achieved by reducing the size of the stomach making it the size of an egg and re-routing the small intestine to a small stomach pouch. Patients are still advised to eat healthy afterwards because the surgery does the 50% and healthy eating does the rest”.

Prof Koto said the other type of bariatric procedure is reducing the size of the stomach by two-thirds (70%) in a procedure called sleeve gastrectomy. “This works by two mechanisms, Firstly, it reduces the size of the stomach so that the patient eats less. Secondly, it reduces the hunger hormones where the patient does not feel hungry”, he emphasized.

Obesity is a significant public health problem in South Africa with serious potential metabolic complications. “One out of three patients in South Africa is obese and this leads to diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and arthritis, hence it is important for a patient to go through a proper screening process before they can be considered for bariatric surgery which is a complete life style change for the patients. What is intriguing is that bariatric surgery is able to permanently cure diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and other obesity related comorbid conditions” added Prof Koto.

SMU through the department of surgery is spearheading the registration and accreditation of a qualification in Bariatric and minimal access surgery in South Africa. Koto said the service would help the government to save money as it could cure diabetes and ensure that there were no more premature deaths. He further said that the procedure had to be looked at, and be made available to the public throughout the country.

Prof Dhaneshwar Bhagwandass, Clinical Head in the Department of Anaesthesiology at SMU and DGMAH, welcomed the opportunity for the team involved in this venture to grow professionally as individuals and as members of a team. “Bringing such initiatives to the public sector, and succeeding, proves that collaborative efforts from clinicians can improve the lives of all South Africans,” emphasized Prof Bhagwandass.

After the presentations at the workshop, the audience was shown live Roux Y gastric bypass procedure on eight patients. This was done using the state-of-the-art 3D laparoscopic camera system in the high-tech room in the department of surgery at SMU. It was transmitted a distance from theatre at DGMAH to the Clinical Pathology Building (SMU). All the patients did well and were discharged two days later.

At this workshop, they also showcased the 4k (ultra-high definition) camera system. This interactive live surgery symposium is a significant education tool which is a growing intervention for learning and professional development. Attendees came from all over the country and some surgeons came all the way from Namibia. Members of the SMU Surgical Students Society were also in attendance.

Assisting first time entering students navigate SMU

by Kegorapetse | Mar 6, 2019 | SMU Media

Hundreds of first time entering students attended the 2019 orientation ceremony that was held at the Sport Centre, recently. The orientation event serves as a necessary rite of passage that the new students must undergo to be able to part ways with their erstwhile high school habits and begin to embrace the ethos that befit an SMU Student. An impressive array of speakers were lined up to share their wisdom and experiences with the captive audience of starry eyed students and their parents who had accompanied them.

Prof Chris de Beer, the Vice-Chancellor of SMU thanked the first time entering students for choosing SMU as the university that will nurture their dreams to become health and natural science professionals. He called upon them to optimally use the opportunity afforded to them as it may be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

In his words, the VC stated, “Thousands have applied to study at SMU, but they could not make the grade. Being admitted at SMU places a great responsibility on their shoulders to work hard to succeed in your studies. SMU is doing all in its power to foster an enabling institutional culture that would inspire them to succeed in their studies. Use the support systems that are in place to address your emotional, academic and social challenges. Free education gives talented yet lesser fortunate students access to higher education. But it also obliges them to give a satisfactory academic performance.

Boast about SMU and show pride in it because you have this privilege to be admitted to study at the only university in South Africa focusing on the health sciences, “said Prof de Beer.

In the same spirit, Prof. Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, the deputy Vice- Chancellor responsible for the research, postgraduate studies and innovation also gave his remarks to calm anxieties of these students. The DVC encouraged them, not only, to focus on their studies, but also urged them to identify extracurricular activities in which they will invest their positive energies. He called upon them to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations of the university in the general calendar.

Mr. Innocent Chauke, the President of the Student Representative Council (SRC) also welcomed and advised them to work hard so that they will be able to complete their academic programmes within the prescribed period.

Sefako Makgatho Health Science University introduces office of Institutional Advancement and Internationalisation to its Institution

by Kegorapetse | Mar 6, 2019 | SMU Media

Sefako Makgatho Health Science University recently introduced the office of Institutional Advancement and Internationalization to its institution. At the helm of developing this directorate is Mr. David Sedumedi who holds MEd in Higher Education (Course work specializing in Student Development) and currently busy with his PhD in Leadership and Complexity, methodology: Systems thinking. He has extensive experience in higher education, which has equipped him with the right skills and knowledge to lead this office.

He explains that institutional advancement is a new concept in South African higher education context with only a few institutions having a formal structure of advancement. The Institutional Advancement and Internationalization office will be dealing with policy development and implementation, which includes, but not limited to fund raising and development, internationalization, campaign designs, stakeholder relations and project communication strategy.

Setting up this office from scratch is what excited Mr. Sedumedi most to apply for this position, he hopes to incorporate his experience in his previous similar role and his current PhD studies. “In my role the plan should be informed by the institutional priorities; what is it that SMU wants to achieve and how do we then mobilize resources to support the whole enterprise by the university”, said Mr. Sedumedi. He went further on to explain that Systems thinking teaches you to be constantly monitoring your external environment, such that you are able to be responsive and adapt to the changes that the external environment imposes upon you.

“We hope to move away from the dependency of sponsorships, but rather create partnerships where people realize that by collaborating with SMU they are actually investing in the public health care system of the country”, said Mr. Sedumedi. He plans to rope in current students and staff members to start pledging towards helping SMU projects such as ‘Hands of Compassion’ (a feeding scheme mainly for students without financial assistance, which relies solely on donations), in a coordinated manner such as using the Payroll donations system where a certain amount will be given back by SARS.

Mr. Sedumedi is excited about the challenge that lies ahead. He hopes to be able to help SMU assert itself as a Health Sciences institution, while working towards being the number one institution of choice for investors on the University’s doorstep such as the Rosslyn industrial hub.