The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University can take a bow for the profound impact its wide-ranging, cutting-edge research has had on the national and global levels.

This was the message from outgoing FMHS Dean, Professor Jimmy Volmink, as he presented his last address as dean at the opening of the faculty's 65^th Annual Academic Day. He dedicated his speech to thanking all those who have contributed to the faculty's research enterprise.

“Our research impacts science, and changes the way we think about various conditions, it impacts health and healthcare and also informs policy not only at a national and at a global level. We can be very proud of the impact we've had as a faculty," Volmink said.

He said the faculty can also be proud of its “very prevalent" innovation. “We saw this very clearly during the Covid-19 pandemic. People just rallied round – from students helping clinicians and others keep track of the literature on Covid-19, to the digitization of the ICU in Tygerberg hospital to the 3D printing of parts in collaboration with other faculties, like engineering."

Highlighting the faculty's research performance, Volmink said the faculty's overall number of research output units had increased from 324 in 2011 to 690 in 2020. “This is a remarkable increase – we are now the leading faculty in the university in terms of our research outputs."

In the same period, publication output units increased from 199 to 436, research masters output units increased from 74 to 109, and doctoral output units increased from 51 in to 144. “On all these levels, our research outputs have been remarkable in the last decade," he said.

Additionally, the numbers of PhD enrolments had dramatically increased – from 123 enrolled in 2011 to 266 in 2020. “These numbers are indicative of not only the interest but the demand for support and supervision. In 2011, we had 17 people graduate in PhDs and in 2019 it was 52. There was a slight drop off in 2020, to 44, due to Covid-19. We expect there will be a compensation for that drop-off in 2021."

The quality of the faculty's research can also be seen in the number of NRF-rated researchers – from 34 in 2011 to 91 in 2021.  “Another indicator of the recognition of our research and researchers it that, since 2011, we've had seven SARChI Research Chairs funded, as well as two externally funded chairs.

“That again is recognition of the work we are doing and its external validation of value of our work. It takes a great deal of effort to procure these grants and our researchers work really hard to be successful in obtaining those grants."

Volmink emphasized the faculty's vision – to be the leading research-intensive health sciences faculty in and for Africa – its mission, and its values: inclusivity, compassion, accountability, respect, excellence and equity. “Equity means giving more to those who are more disadvantaged. We keep that in mind as we go about our business in making decisions as a faculty."

Turning to the diversity profile, Volmink said it had been successful in opening up the faculty to everyone in the country. In 2011, 70% of the faculty's students were female and this percentage was still the same in 2020. In 2011, whites comprised 50% of the students with CBIA (Coloured, Black, Indian and Asian) students also at 50%, while in 2020 CBIA students comprise 62% and whites 38% in the faculty.

In 2011, female staff comprised 67% of the faculty and this had increased to 68% in 2020.

In 2011 white staff comprised 64% and CBIA staff comprised 36% of the faculty and by 2020 this percentage was 56% white and 44% CBIA.

“We are still not where we want to be so we have to work on this as we go forward."

In terms of the professoriate, the female professoriate rose from 6.3% in 2011 to 10.7% of staff in 2020, while the male professoriate rose from 18.1% in 2011 to 21.2% of staff in 2020.

“This indicates that if you are male in this category, you are twice more likely to be a professor than if you are female."

The CBIA professoriate rose from 7.2% of staff in 2011 to 12.3% in 2020, while the white professoriate rose from 12.3% in 2011 to 15.8% in 2020. “We also have some work to do here."

Volmink paid tribute to all those playing a role in research support, including health research ethics committees and the marketing and communications department. “My tenure over the two terms that I served as dean have been one of the greatest honours of my life and the one thing I've learnt is that success is dependent on working collaboratively, in a team spirit, with a number of people."

Professor Nico Gey van Pittius, FMHS Vice Dean: Research and Internationalisation, said the academic day has been a highlight of the academic calendar for over 65 years. “It showcases and celebrates our faculty's ongoing and world-class research and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of our researchers and support staff and to reflect on the impact of our research."

He announced the winners of this year's HD Brede Award for Postgraduate Research in Infectious Disease for 2021, an annual award to commemorate the first professor in microbiology in the faculty.

The award in the Clinical Research Category went to Dr Ahmed A. Abulfathi from the Division of Clinical Pharmacology for his paper The Population Pharmacokinetics of Meropenem in Adult Paients with Rifampicin-Sensitive Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

The award in the Biomedical Research Category went to Dr James Gallant, from the Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics for his paper entitled PPE38-Secretion-Dependent Proteins of M.tuberculosis Alter NF-kB Signaling and Inflammator Responses in Macrophages.