Stellenbosch University
Welcome to Stellenbosch University
First year health sciences students receive a ‘pioneer’s’ welcome
Author: Florence de Vries
Published: 26/01/2018

​​True to its commitment to innovation and excellence in health sciences education, Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) introduced its first year students to its health professionals' commitment which they will pledge to at the commencement of their training – a first for the university.

Speaking at the welcoming ceremony for first year health sciences students at the university's Tygerberg campus – home of the FMHS - Dr Therese Fish, Vice-Dean: Clinical Services and Social Impact at FMHS, introduced the commitment to students, their families and the rest of the Faculty's administration. In the spirit of the FMHS's vision of advancing health and equality in South Africa, the commitment was read to students in all 11 official languages including sign-language.

“As you know, we as health professionals swear an oath once we've completed our training. In this respect, you will find that the oath for each one of our programmes have, over the years, been tailored appropriately. With the introduction of this commitment at the commencement of your training, you, the first years of 2018, are pioneers at our university," she said, adding that health professionals should at all times be held accountable to it. Click here to read the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' Undergraduate Student Commitment.

Professor Jimmy Volmink, Dean of the FMHS, commenced his welcome address with a comment on the water crisis the Western Cape is currently mired in. “You can only imagine how disruptive it will be to our local community, including this campus, if our taps run dry." He asked first year students to help the FMHS with its drought response plan in a bid to stave off 'Day Zero'.

Professor Volmink said that the FMHS is the most complex and one of the largest faculties at Stellenbosch University. “Our students are among the brightest and most hard-working and they are here because they want to make a difference in the world through promoting health, treating disease and easing suffering."

He reiterated the notion that as one of the most essential professions in the 21st century, medical and health sciences degrees were lengthy, demanding and one of the most challenging and competitive journeys to undertake. “Your presence here today is therefore a remarkable feat."

This past week, 440 new undergraduate medicine and health sciences students joined Stellenbosch University's Tygerberg campus. This year, approximately 270 new students enrolled for the MB,ChB (medical) programme while 60 students are starting their BSc in Physiotherapy (including extended degree programme students). A further 40 students would be commencing a BSc in Dietetics while 55 are completing a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy and 35 start a Bachelor's degree in Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy.

Tevarus Naicker, chairperson of the Tygerberg Student Council (TSC), introduced the 2018 student council and addressed first years with a special and relevant reflection on 'life as a health sciences student.' He said that he'd consulted Instagram in a bid to find the right advice for first year health sciences students. Some of the nuggets he shared included: “Talk to new people", “Ask for help", “Protect your mind," and “Remember, this is not an episode of Grey's Anatomy…nobody needs that much drama." ​