UCT Division of Family Medicine & Palliative Medicine

29/01/2026

Dear Sheron, thank you for your exceptional leadership as our Postgraduate Programme Convenor over the last few months and for being such a stable presence during this transition phase in our postgraduate training activities. You have been a valued member of our division. Your dedication and passion have made a lasting impact in the lives of our students and colleagues. Wishing you all the best in your next career chapter and looking forward to staying in touch.

Family, Community and Emergency Care

29/01/2026

“The Family Medicine Conference is being held today, January 29, 2026, in Morogoro Region, with the aim of discussing best approaches to strengthening primary health care services in preparation for the implementation of Universal Health Insurance, as well as improving the delivery of integrated services, service coordination, and community-centered care.
The conference is accompanied by a working session that has brought together Directors from the Ministry of Health, the Prime Minister’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI), the Medical Council of Tanganyika (MCT), as well as Universities of Health and Allied Sciences, including MUHAS, Aga Khan University, KCMC University, and Kairuki University, who are key stakeholders in Family Medicine training in the country.
In addition, the conference has brought together health stakeholders from several countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Canada, and the United States, with the objective of exchanging regional and international experiences in strengthening health systems in Tanzania.”

Klaus Von Pressentin

South African Academy of Family Physicians - SAAFPFamily, Community and Emergency CareUCT Faculty of Health Sciences World Organization of Family Doctors - WONCA

29/01/2026

Dr Tasleem Ras Tasleem Ras describes a collaborative, interdisciplinary research programme involving partners in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the UK, focused on improving early cancer diagnosis. The project explores cancer diagnostic pathways from patient, clinician, and health system perspectives, and has led to the co-creation of locally relevant interventions with community and clinical partners. Current work is trialling community awareness tools for common cancers and a diagnostic aid for primary care clinicians in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The aim is to support earlier symptom recognition, earlier presentation, and more timely cancer diagnosis in high-burden settings.

https://ecancer.org/en/video/12708-understanding-and-strengthening-cancer-diagnostic-pathways-in-africa Prof Tasleem Ras

World Organization of Family Doctors - WONCASouth African Academy of Family Physicians - SAAFPUCT Faculty of Health SciencesFamily, Community and Emergency Care

Dr Tasleem Ras describes a collaborative, interdisciplinary research programme involving partners in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the UK, focused on improving ea

16/01/2026

As the first academic day of the year, our division's outgoing postgraduate convenor, Dr Sheron Forgus, organised an engaging open research day for our registrars on 15 January 2026. Thanks to the supervisors who were able to join us and provide valuable input. We are especially grateful to our presenters for their valuable insights and for inspiring our registrars and supervisors to make the most of the MMed research project journey. Most importantly, thank you to the registrars for your commitment and dedication to equipping yourselves as clinician-scholars! 🤩🙏



UCT Faculty of Health Sciences Wonca Africa World Organization of Family Doctors - WONCA South African Academy of Family Physicians - SAAFP

16/01/2026

Rural OnBoarding 2026 starts 10th February. All health professionals welcome to attend - whether RuDASA members or not. Follow us on social media to see the weekly adverts starting in February. Although this course targets community service doctors we have many experienced doctors, keen to update their knowledge, join the webinars.

If you are a RuDASA member you will be eligible for the CPD points for each webinar you attend and the Resource Packs for the weekly topics, so join us - ITS FREE!

22/12/2025

Applications are open for the Montegut Global Scholars Program 2026. Seven bursaries of USD 3,500 will be awarded, one per WONCA region, to early or mid-career family doctors active in education, research or quality improvement.

Funding may be used to attend a WONCA Regional Conference in 2026 or the World Rural Health Conference in New Zealand.

https://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/member/awards/MontegutScholarAward2.aspx

22/12/2025

Applications are now open for the Donald Li Young Doctor Movement Global Scholarship. This scheme supports young doctors from low and middle income countries by helping cover registration, travel, visa costs and accommodation for WONCA conferences.

Who should apply: Eligible applicants must come from a World Bank low or middle income economy, meet the YDM definition of a Young Doctor, be active in their regional Young Doctor Movement and secure a supporting letter from their regional YDM lead. Three bursaries of USD 2,500 will be awarded in 2026. Successful applicants may use the funding to attend a WONCA Regional Conference or the World Rural Health Conference in New Zealand.

Thank you: This opportunity for young family doctors is generously supported by Dr Donald Li, Past WONCA President and a long standing leader in family medicine across Hong Kong, China and globally.

The deadline to apply is 29 January 2026.

https://www.globalfamilydoctor.com/member/awards/DonaldLiYDMGlobalScholarship.aspx

13/12/2025

🌟 We had a productive Strategic Planning Workshop on 8–9 December 2025! 🌟

Over two days, we reflected on our strengths, explored research opportunities, engaged with stakeholders, and aligned our priorities for the year ahead.

A big thank you to our stakeholders from the Department of Health, as well as our Dean and Deputy Dean, for their valuable insights and support. 💼✨

12/12/2025

🌺 On 11 December, we gathered to celebrate and honour some very special colleagues. We bid a heartfelt farewell to Prof Sedi Namane Sedi Namane, Dr Neal David, and Mr Keith Flandorp as they retire after years of dedication and service.

We also wished Dr Maggie De Swardt Magdaleen De Swardt Ekkerd and Dr Cathy Diankenda Kalombo all the best as they move into a new and exciting chapter of their lives.

Thank you for your leadership, commitment, and the impact you’ve had on all of us. You will be truly missed. 💐❤️


Family, Community and Emergency CareUCT School of Public HealthSouth African Academy of Family Physicians - SAAFPUCT Faculty of Health Sciences

24/11/2025

It is with great sadness 😢 that we have learnt of the passing of Zelra Malan. Zelra worked with the Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care for many years before going to Namibia 🇳🇦 to lead family medicine there. She came to Stellenbosch from private practice and completed a PhD 🎓 with us on brief behaviour change counselling.

She initially worked on a project to develop family medicine in South Africa 🇿🇦 with a particular focus on developing a curriculum for the Diploma in Family Medicine. She later headed up all our postgraduate programmes 📚 and continued research on behaviour change counselling. More recently she headed the Department of Family Medicine in Namibia and helped to develop their Diploma.

She was also an Assistant Editor for Southern Africa on the African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine 📝.

We will remember her for her important contribution to family medicine in Africa 🌍, her interest in motivational interviewing 💬, her quirky sense of humour 😄, love of very strange-looking pets 🐾, and riding on scooters 🛵.

She had many friends and colleagues here at Stellenbosch 🤝. We send our condolences to her family 💐 and will always remember her contribution to family medicine ❤️.

06/11/2025

Innocent Besigye and Bob Mash were invited to write an article for the Africa Health Journal on “The current state and future of family medicine in Africa”. The photo shows key members of the family medicine community at the PRIMAFAMED meeting in Lusaka earlier this year. This article is now published and can be read athttps://africa-health.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/23-26-Family-Medicine.pdf