Walter Sisulu University’s Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) has welcomed its new dean, Professor Thozama Dubula who took the reins in January 2023.

Dubula took over the faculty following the retirement of his predecessor, Professor Jabu Mbokazi, who retired in December 2022.

The Idutywa native and proud University of Transkei (UNITRA) alumnus has hit the ground running; eagerly seizing the opportunity to contribute to what he described an institution that has provided so much for so many young men and women who have become trailblazers in their professional careers.

“I am a product of this faculty and university. The diverse array of skills of its personnel and their undying willingness to work under extremely difficult circumstances provides a great opportunity to expand and develop a unique cadre of graduates who will be able to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people of the Eastern Cape and country at large,” said Dubula.

The Associate Professor holds a Bachelor of Sciences Degree (BSc), Bachelor of Medicine and  a Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) from Unitra. He also holds a certificate from the Fellowship of the Colleges of Physicians (FCP); a Certificate in Rheumatology (Cert Rheum) from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa; as well as an MMED (Medicine) from UKZN.

Professionally, Dubula has served as a Registrar in Internal Medicine at King Edward VIII Hospital, and as a fellow in Rheumatology at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Durban. He joined the Department of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology at WSU and Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in August 2015 and  was subsequently appointed as head of department in August 2016, the post he held until his current appointment.

As he assumes his role as the Dean of WSU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, Dubula’s vision is to ensure that the faculty continues to produce dynamic graduates who will be able to work in a diverse array of clinical environments, from rural to urban.

“I’d like to explore ways of increasing the number of health sciences undergraduate programs offered by the faculty especially the allied health professions. To continue with the good undergraduate medical programs that the faculty provides, further strengthen the expanded training platform that the faculty uses for its training programs,” said Dubula.

Dubula also asserted that he plans to further improve the postgraduate student throughput of the faculty, collaborate with partners nationally and internationally to improve research productivity and publications, and encourage young professionals to pursue careers in academic medicine.

By Yanga Ziwele