An historic event took place this week at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) when the 64^th Annual Academic Day (AAD), which has been held every year since the faculty was established in 1956, was for the first time hosted virtually due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“The AAD showcases our research and the faculty's world-class efforts at addressing health sciences questions and problems," said Prof Nico Gey van Pittius, FMHS Vice Dean: Research and Internationalisation, who hosts the event. “Rather than cancelling the event, we decided to adopt a new format for the day, on a virtual platform, which provides a unique online meeting room where participants can network, collaborate and be inspired by the outstanding research done at the FMHS."

According to Gey van Pittius, the pandemic did not dampen the staff and students' enthusiasm for the event, and attendance of the event has grown by 75% from last year. This year's programme includes an address by the FMHS Dean, Professor Jimmy Volmink, a provocative talk by the guest speaker Professor Madhukar Pai, six state-of-the-art presentations and more than 200 poster presentations. The theme for the state-of-the-art presentations and guest speakers focused on the Covid-19 pandemic. “We hope these sessions will ensure that researchers from across disciplinary borders come together to discuss important issues around a central health question of great importance to South Africa and the rest of the world," Gey van Pittius said.

In his Dean's Address, Volmink acknowledged the physical and mental challenges and suffering caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and encouraged people to practice self-care during this time. He highlighted the exceptional efforts and sacrifices by healthcare workers, who “literally put their lives on the line to help others" and also of women, who bear the brunt of the pandemic.

Volmink appealed for people to show compassion and practice social cohesion. “If there ever was a time for us as South Africans to look beyond our personal interests, it is now. This is the time for us to be looking out for each other, to show solidarity towards each other. This is the time for generosity of spirit. It is not enough to feel empathy to someone less fortunate than ourselves, we must act out of compassion," he said.

“It is not enough to stand for equality, we must act to reduce and end inequality. As a faculty, let us redouble our efforts to build health systems that will provide access to quality care to all – not just the few. Let us defend the integrity of science, generate new knowledge, and promote evidence-based decision-making.

“This is the time for us to focus on our common humanity, to build Ubuntu," said Volmink.

In his talk, the guest speaker, Prof Madhukar Pai, discussed the risks of what he calls the “Covidization" of research. Pai, who is an internationally recognised epidemiologist and Global Health expert with McGill University in Canada, unpacked the effects that the Covid-19 crisis is having on scientific research.

He argued that although there were benefits to doing Covid-19-related research, the enormous surge of interest in the field has channelled funds and scientific focus away from other research priorities, resulting in “a lot of waste and redundancy in science".

He also warned that rushed and sloppy research could lead to a lowering of scientific standards and erode trust in science.

“All health research cannot be about a pandemic or infectious threats, and all infectious-disease research cannot be about Covid-19," Pai said.

“Diversity in research is critical for any society, and will prepare us better for the next crisis."

The poster presentations by staff, postdoctoral fellows and students were aligned to the seven tradition multidisciplinary tracts, namely: 1) infectious diseases; 2) non-communicable diseases; 3) mental health and neurosciences; 4) violence, injuries, trauma and rehabilitation; 5) maternal and child health; 6) health systems strengthening and primary health care; and 7) perioperative sciences.

Caption - Banner: The various speakers at the FMHS' 64th Annual Academic Day.

Caption - Insert: Profs Nico Gey van Pittius and Madhukar Pai during the webinar.