College of Health Sciences’ Registrars Orientation a Success

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The College of Health Sciences (CHS) held a successful Registrars Orientation event sponsored by Investec.

The CHS held its first orientation for registrars (MMED students) on 8 March 2019. The event brought together key role-players that included the Department of Health (DoH) and UKZN’s Student Support Services.

The 2019 UKZN registrar intake comprises 100 registrars from the Department of Health and 12 supernumerary registrars from countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Namibia and Mauritius. The gathering also included registrars from the School of Clinical Medicine, the School of Laboratory Medicine and the School of Nursing and Public Health.

The main aim of the event was to familiarise registrars about University rules and requirements for the MMED, introduce them to the postgraduate team and their “classmates” from other Schools and Disciplines, and make them aware of the importance of personal wellness and self-care on the academic journey.

‘Most of you in the room have game changing abilities and chose to follow your ambitions and dreams of becoming a specialist. I have no doubt that in four years’ time you will all become specialists in your chosen fields,’ said Dean and Head of School of Clinical Medicine Professor Ncoza Dlova.‘We will remain accessible to support you and create a conducive environment in which you can flourish - any department which strays from this vision should be reported without any fear of being victimised.’

Event co-ordinator, UKZN psychiatrist and Academic Leader for the College’s Registrar Training Programme, Dr Suvira Ramlall, highlighted the need for personal self-care for medical doctors and the importance of developing holistically - both professionally and personally - due to the demands of studying while working fulltime. She warned that burnout, depression, stress and suicide were common among young doctors, urging them to develop resilience by paying attention to their own physical and emotional health, leading healthy lifestyles and drawing strength from social and family support networks.

Said Dean and Head of the School of Nursing and Public Health, Professor Mosa Moshabela: ‘Push boundaries and prove that you deserved to be selected onto our UKZN-CHS Registrar programme.’

Proceedings focused on UKZN administrative and research requirements, student support services, as well as DoH rules pertaining to leave and employee responsibilities. The need for addressing the unique needs of supernumerary registrars was flagged for further attention by DoH and UKZN. 

Investec also provided useful guidance on financial planning for young doctors.

UKZN’s recently qualified first female cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr Lindiwe Sidali concluded the formalities with a motivational talk, sharing practical advice on how to successfully journey through registrarship.

Words: Lihle Sosibo