Congratulations to Graduates in the School
Our graduation ceremonies continue to be a highlight in our calendar. The Health Sciences Graduation Ceremony held on Tuesday 03 September was no exception. It was the first such ceremony that included our new Vice Chancellor, Professor Mosa Moshabela. Prof Moshabela has a remarkable number of degrees, including a PhD in Public Health. We were therefore particularly happy that he was able to witness the seven Doctoral students who graduated from our School:
Dr Assegid Hellebo (Health Economics Division). Assegid’s thesis title: “The economic burden, patients’ well-being, and social determinants related to diabetes in South Africa”
Dr Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa (Health Economics Division). Akim’s thesis title: “An assessment of the utilisation of stokvels or rotating savings and credit associations to influence healthy eating in South Africa”
Dr Patience Nyakato (Public Health Medicine Division). Patience’s thesis title: “Characteristics and outcomes of children, adolescents and young adults on antiretroviral therapy in Southern Africa, incorporating additional outcome ascertainment through linkage and tracing studies”
Dr Priscilla Nyambayo (Public Health Medicine Division). Priscilla’s thesis title: “The use of m-Health active participant centred (MAPC) systems to improve surveillance of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) in Zimbabwe”
Dr Shehani Perera (Social and Behavioural Sciences Division). Shehani’s thesis title: “Assisted Partner Notification for HIV: a qualitative study of providers’ and female patients’ perspectives and experiences of assisted partner notification in Cape Town, South Africa”
Dr Sofia Tavares (Social and Behavioural Sciences Division). Sofia’s thesis title: “Women’s empowerment: Fertility intentions and family planning practices in Mozambique”
Dr Tsidiso Tolla (Social and Behavioural Sciences Division). Tsidiso’s thesis title: “Exploring the influence of romantic relationships on adolescent boys’ sexual and reproductive health attitudes and practices”
The PhD is a long and strenuous journey and you deserve our warmest congratulations.
In addition to these PhDs, our graduates included:
Master of Public Health – 28 graduates (5 with overall distinction, 7 with distinction in the dissertation and 2 with distinction in the coursework component)
Masters in Chemicals Risk Management – 3 graduates
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Economics – 1 graduate
Postgraduate Diploma in Pesticide Risk Management – 1 graduate
Congratulations to all our students and appreciation to our staff for the role you play in achieving our vision.
A special thank you to the large number of staff that attended the ceremony, it was wonderful to turn out in such large numbers to show our support to our students.