​​​History was made at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) last week, when, for the first time, a female dean welcomed first-year students to the Tygerberg campus.

The new group of medical students, will also be the first to be instructed in an innovative new MBChB curriculum that is being introduced in the medical programme this year.

“We are sharing a number of firsts," Prof Elmi Muller, the new Dean told the 510 first-year students​. “As the new dean of the faculty, this first-year group is very special to me. Today is your first day at this faculty, and I want to share my excitement with you."

Muller, a renowned transplant surgeon who stepped into the role of FMHS Dean on 1 January this year, shared the memory of her own first day of medical school more than three decades ago, recalling the excitement and anxiety she felt about her own introduction into the world of medicine. She reminded students of the saying that “a journey of 1 000 miles begins with a single step", but assured them that the effort was worth it.

“Healthcare is a lifelong journey, and very fulfilling because of the people whose lives you change, people who would have suffered or died, or who have better quality of life, because of our interventions," said Muller.

She emphasised that the Covid-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the important role healthcare workers play in society, and assured students that at the FMHS they will receive training from some of the best healthcare professionals in the country to prepare them for this critical role.

Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Prof Wim de Villiers, who also attended the welcoming ceremony, congratulated the first-year students on their academic achievement, despite the challenges of Covid-19, which secured them a spot in one of the faculty's medicine and health sciences programmes.

“Getting accepted into SU is a great achievement, and I want to congratulate you on it. There are thousands of young people all over the country, in fact all over the world, that dream of sitting where you are now," said De Villiers.

“The greatest glory of living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." With this quote by late President Nelson Mandela, De Villiers encouraged students to stay focused on their goal of becoming healthcare workers.

“Remember that on this journey you are not alone. We have extended networks that can help support you… we want you to succeed, and want to help you reach your dream."

He also encouraged students to vaccinate against Covid-19. “Remember – no jab, no jol!" he jibed.

Mr Vhudi Ravhutsi, chair of the Tygerberg Student Representative Council, welcomed first-year students to the Tygerberg community and encouraged them to embrace the diversity and experiences that the campus has to offer.

Ravhutsi, who is a fifth-year medical student, told the newcomers that coming from a small village in Limpopo, he was completely out of his comfort zone when he first arrived at the Tygerberg campus. “It was anything but easy. I had to engage with people from different walks of life, with different values and world views from mine… I had to undergo a lot of learning and unlearning, but it made me into the person I am today. I encourage each and every one of you to get out of your comfort zones and welcome this experience of change."

Reiterating De Villiers, Ravhutsi told students to reach out for help if they need it and to take care of themselves on all levels of wellbeing.

He left them with the following thought: “There is one thing I want you to hold dear, and that is your identity. It is very easy to lose sight of who you are, trying to fit in with the rest of the group. And although reinvention and growth are pivotal, your identity is something you should be proud of. I am proud of my background and my identity. You've just walked into a diverse environment, and how inspiring it is to see the rich diversity of proud cultures."

Dr Therese Fish, FMHS Vice Dean: Clinical Service and Social Impact addressed the first-year students about the importance of practicing ethical and responsible healthcare. “It is our responsibility as a health sciences faculty to guide you in order that you develop into competent, confident and caring health professionals who will practise evidence-based healthcare," Fish said.

She told students that the Hippocratic Oath for health professionals has been adapted and modernised over the years and that the FMHS has developed its own interprofessional pledge, which graduands take every year. “For us as health professionals, the pledge is important as it guides our behaviour as professionals and espouses our values. Internationally, many health sciences faculties and medical schools have also implemented a commencement oath or pledge, which is used to guide students on their path and their training."

Finally, the commencement pledge for first-year FMHS students was read in each of South Africa's 11 official languages.