UKZN’s Medical Sciences Honours Roadshow

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The School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences (SLMMS) hosted its annual roadshow to encourage final-year Medical Sciences students to further their careers by enrolling in various honours programmes available at the School.

Serious about “growing its own timber”, SLMMS combines disciplines associated with Pathology and Laboratory Medicine with the basic medical sciences of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, which underpin the clinical curricula.

While the exciting world of work awaits on completion of their undergraduate degrees, enrolling for an honours degree not only sets the students a cut above the rest regarding employability locally and abroad but also contributes to essential solutions-driven context-specific research needed in the Medical Sciences Discipline.

Promoting the Human Anatomy stream, Professor Lelika Lazarus said depending on how students pair their majors, there was an array of career opportunities available. Students could venture into academia, become medical sales representatives, or even join professional services staff as technicians in the medical sciences. Lazarus said the School was home to world-class academics, and a team of highly competent technicians was always there to assist in the laboratories.

The students heard testimonials including one from Clinical Anatomy lecturer and PhD candidate Ms Cassandra Creamer of Wentworth who spoke about her transition from undergraduate to honours and then masters at the School. Having ventured into industry and then returned to UKZN, Creamer said her passion for teaching and academia was sparked when she entered the School’s postgraduate studies. She encouraged students to study hard and identify areas of passion within their studies (https://www.facebook.com/ukznHealthSciences/videos/3448947092011704).

Honours students can conduct SLMMS research in Anatomical Pathology, Clinical Anatomy within the HIV Pathogenesis Programme, Optics and Imaging Discipline, Chemical and Forensic Pathology, Physiology, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Microbiology, Virology, and at the Institution’s Biomedical Resource Unit - one of the largest laboratory animal facilities in southern Africa.

‘I know that there’s a perception that Medical Biochemistry is hard, but truly, nothing of value ever comes easy,’ said SLMMS senior lecturer and academic leader for Molecular and Cellular Diseases, Dr Rene Khan, who advised students to study hard knowing that the School was there to render all the necessary support.

Khan said her stream had a significant focus on molecular mechanisms. Students would learn research methodology, analytical techniques, molecular mechanisms of disease, environmental toxicology, principles of metabolism, and as with the streams, complete a research project.

The students were informed about the application process, funding, and bursary opportunities.

Said SLMMS Principal Programme Officer Ms Ntokozo Mngadi: ‘The roadshow was a success and students were engaged. We anticipate good quality students will join our School in 2024.’

Words and photograph: Lunga Memela