The Division of Physiotherapy recently launched its 50-year celebration with the theme: "Moving forward together".

"Movement is our core business and exercise medicine is an important aspect of health," said Dr Marianne Unger, a senior lecturer at the Division of Physiotherapy at Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS).

The head of the division, Prof Susan Hanekom, highlighted the substantial contribution the unit has made to the delivery of quality health care over the past 50 years.

"For us to move forward together, we have to look back at the past," said Hanekom, highlighting some of the unit's many achievements over the last half century. 

The Division of Physiotherapy at Stellenbosch University was established in 1966 by Moira van Oord. Since then a total of 1,425 physiotherapists have graduated from the division, and an additional 93 masters and five PhD qualifications were achieved.

Prof Jimmy Volmink, dean of the FMHS, congratulated the division on this milestone, and ascribed the unit's success over the last five decades to strong leadership.

"There is no question that the Division of Physiotherapy will continue to go forward," said Volmink.

As part of its 50 year celebration the division has launched a Legacy Fund that will give financial assistance to needy physiotherapy students. Various events have been scheduled throughout the year to raise money for the fund.

• ​​Photo: Profs Jimmy Volmink (Dean: FMHS), Susan Hanekom (Head of the Division of Physiotherapy), Usuf Chikte (Executive Head of the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences) and Marietjie de Villiers (Vice Dean: Education) with an energetic group of third-year students who call themselves the Army Cats that performed at the launch.