22 Pharmacy Students Graduate Summa Cum Laude

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A total of 22 BPharm students graduated summa cum laude at UKZN’s Autumn ceremonies.

‘Graduating summa cum laude was completely unexpected but was a reward for my hard work, determination and perseverance throughout my studies,’ said Ms Farah Khan.

Currently completing her internship at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Khan hopes to pursue a Master’s degree in Pharmacy.

‘It was only in my internship year that I realised the value and depth of the knowledge I obtained. UKZN’s Pharmacy curriculum challenged me, but allowed me to strike a good balance between my theoretical knowledge and practical skills,’ said Khan.

A member of the Golden Key International Honour Society since 2019, she has received seven Deans’ Commendations as well as scholarships totaling R70 000 to pursue a Master’s degree in Pharmacy at UKZN and at the University of Oxford in England.

Said graduate Mr Mahomed Seedat: ‘I feel happy to know that the work and hours I dedicated to the degree have paid off. Such success wasn’t really expected considering the difficulty of the final year, especially with blended learning.’

Engineering has always been first choice for Seedat, but through research he realised there was a lot more room to directly help people in the pharmaceutical field than through engineering.  ‘I have lived in several different places in South Africa and what that has taught me is there’s no such thing as “set ways”. There’s always something new and different to learn. Everyone you meet will know something more than you do.’

Seedat is currently doing his internship at a small community pharmacy and hopes to start a career in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.

Words: Mandisa Shozi

Photograph: Abhi Indrarajan