Azhar Adam Nadkar, a final-year medical student at Stellenbosch University (SU) who has earned the reputation of being a “tireless volunteer", an all-rounder and a role model to his peers on campus, was recently recognised for a range of achievements, including being named as one of the top five medical students in South Africa by the Alliance of South African Independent Practitioners Association (ASAIPA).

This year, Nadkar also became the first Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) student ever to be awarded both the Rector's Awards for Excellent Achievement in Leadership (2020) and Service Provision (2021) and also the Tygerberg Students Council's Honorary Award in Leadership (2021) and Service Provision (2021).

On top of this, he was recently elected as the first SU member to serve on the international Association for Medical Education (AMEE) Aspire-to-Excellence Award Panel for Excellence in International Collaboration in Health Professions Education and the AMEE Aspire-to-Excellence Board.

Nadkar, who is a keen advocate for creating opportunities for African students, is also passionate about student involvement in education and believes students should be involved in all learning and teaching initiatives.

Faculty members who nominated him for the Rector's awards described him as a valued member of the FMHS. Prof Susan van Schalkwyk, Director: Centre for Health Professions Education, said he had “contributed in a number of different ways across a wide range of activities, always cognisant of foregrounding the student voice while seeking to strengthen teaching and learning". Other Faculty members paid tribute to his high level of motivation and his “extensive and sustained involvement in service provision" while continuing to excel academically, and his “sensitivity to the needs of his peers and his learning institution".

In an interview, Nadkar said he was humbled to be the first FMHS student to receive this recognition. “I hope to use this as an opportunity to inspire my fellow students within the Faculty to continue making a positive impact through both positional and non-positional leadership structures and via innovative service provision. The Covid-19 pandemic and its collateral effects further highlighted the importance of demonstrating great sensitivity to the needs of my peers and learning institution, and therefore it was important for me to be cognisant of highlighting the student voice whilst also seeking to strengthen teaching and learning within the Faculty."

ASAIPA is an organisation which represents the interests of 14 independent practitioner associations throughout South Africa. The ASAIPA National Medical Student Awards recognises top-performing final-year medical students who have excelled in academics, leadership and service provision during their studies.

Nadkar said he is incredibly honoured and delighted to be recognised as one of ASAIPA's top five medical students in South Africa this year. “This award bears testimony to my commitment to graduate from SU as a well-rounded medical doctor who aims to serve as a change agent in my community. Throughout my medical studies, I have always tried my utmost best to contribute towards initiatives aimed at improving and strengthening my fellow students' experience. Whilst my academics always took top priority, I still endeavoured to play a meaningful role in several student-led initiatives to show my commitment to life and learning outside the curriculum."

Expanding on his AMEE achievement, Nadkar said this award programme was initiated to recognise international excellence in medical, dental and veterinary schools. “The aim is to promote outstanding performance and excellence in schools in terms of their mission and teaching and learning programmes, whilst also considering the challenges and contexts in which a school is operating. The programme comprises an international board of distinguished leaders in health professions education (HPE) as members. The board recognises the importance of involving students in the aspire-to-excellence process."

Nadkar was elected to the award panel and subsequently the board after being nominated by the President of AMEE, Prof Trevor Gibbs.

“As a member of this panel and board, I will contribute to discussions regarding the criteria for which a submission for excellence is assessed and contribute to the assessment of submissions from medical, dental and veterinary schools globally. I will also participate in the Aspire panel and board meeting held at the time of the AMEE conference which takes place in different parts of Europe annually."

Nadkar said his biggest role model is his mother. “She epitomises resilience, compassion, and humility. It is my mother's unwavering support, prayers and guidance that has enabled me to accomplish great achievements throughout my life thus far.

“Another role-model is our former Vice-Dean: Learning and Teaching, Prof Julia Blitz, who has not only kindly mentored me, but also empowered me to drive change in HPE both locally and internationally. Her selfless and empathetic leadership is an inspiration."

Nadkar, who will complete his medical internship next year and thereafter his community service, hopes to pursue speciality training in internal medicine.

He hopes to also pursue a master's and PhD degree in health professions education, which he believes will enable him to “combine my passion for clinical medicine and health professions education and better equip me to contribute to the much-needed improvements I want to see in our healthcare system".

He said as a medical doctor he hopes to achieve three main things – to be a skilled healthcare practitioner, to be an engaged scholar and researcher, and to be an effective medical teacher – all of which will enable him to be a holistic medical practitioner in the South African setting.

​Photo credit: Etienne Swanepoel