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Current News

SURGEON’S DEDICATION TO AFRICAN COVID VACCINE EARNS PROF HONORARY DOCTORAL DEGREE

Professor Markus Depfenhart

A decorated German academic who’s advanced the reputation and standing of WSU through his work in the Covid-19 vaccine space was honoured by the institutions during its June graduation ceremonies in June.

Plastic surgeon and emergency physician Prof Marcus Depfenhart, joined WSU in June 2021 through a joint research project hosted by the Northwest University, and WSU as an innovator and researcher. 

In June, Walter Sisulu University conferred the degree of Doctor of Health Sciences upon him for his outstanding work in developing three human candidate vaccines against COVID-19.

Prof Depfenhart obtained his basic medical degree from the University of Frankfurt in 2004 before, during the same year, achieving his MD with a full approbation as a physician. He would go on to obtain his PhD in Medicine from the same University a few years later.

He would further broaden his horizon by venturing into the academic fields of patenting and law by obtained a doctoral degree in Patent Management from the Czech Republic’s Mendel University, as well as procuring an LLM degree from FOM Hamburg.

“A comprehensive education is the key to effort for lateral thinking which in turn is a strong driver for innovation. With lateral thinking and hard work, everyone can become an expert in almost any field or even create new fields himself. Such experts are especially needed to build up a sustained and integrated system for preparedness for future pandemics and for African diseases,” said Prof Depfenhart.

Opining on his vision for a healthier African continent, Prof Depfenhart said that vaccines, developed and manufactured on the African continent, by Africans for Africa, hold the key to a healthier and better continent.

He said he was grateful that he could contribute and play his own modest part towards the production of African COvid-19 vaccines and in so doing to add his own bit to making the world a healthier place.

By Thando Cezula

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  • Home
    • Discover WSU
      • Overview
      • Focus Areas
      • FAQs
      • Important Facts
    • Vision & Mission
    • Governance & Leadership
      • Governance Structures
        • Council
        • Institutional Forum
        • Institutional & Campus SRCs
      • Leadership
    • Organisational Strategy
      • Higher Education Act
      • Statute
      • Policies
      • 2030 Strategic Plan
      • TRANSFORMATION AND LANGUAGES DIRECTORATE
      • Annual Performance Plan
      • University Calendar
      • Annual Report
  • Study with Us
    • Undergraduate Programmes
      • New Students
        • Admission Requirements
        • Student Accommodation
        • Fees & Financial Support
          • Fees
          • NSFAS & Funza
          • ISFAP
          • Other
        • How to Apply: The Process
        • Students with Special Needs
        • International Students
        • Important Dates
        • Student Online Services Portal
      • Returning Students
        • Re-Admission Requirements
        • Online Results
        • Student Accommodation
        • Fees & Financial Support
        • Students with Special Needs
        • International Students
        • Important Dates
        • Student Online Services Portal
      • Faculties
        • Engineering, Built Environment And Information Technology
        • Management and Public Administration Sciences
        • Economic and Financial Sciences
        • Law, Humanities And Social Sciences
        • Medicine And Health Sciences
        • Natural Sciences
        • Education
    • Postgraduate Programmes
      • Postgraduate Students
        • Admission Requirements
        • Online Results
        • Residence Support
        • Fees & Financial Support
          • Fees
          • NRF
          • Other
      • Faculties
        • Engineering, Built Environment And Information Technology
        • Management And Public Administration Sciences
        • Economic And Financial Sciences
        • Law, Humanities And Social Sciences
        • Medicine And Health Sciences
        • Natural Sciences
        • Education
    • Application Guide
      • 2023 Prospectuses
      • 2023 Registration Guidelines
      • Students with Special Needs
      • International Students
      • Important Dates
      • WSU Figshare
    • Graduation
  • Teaching & Learning
    • Directorate Overview
    • Policies & Strategic Documents
    • Student Development & Support
      • Academic Advising
      • Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL)
      • Extended Curricula
    • Teaching & Learning Development
      • Staff Development Programmes
    • Learning & Teaching with Tech
    • Scholarship of Teaching & Learning
    • Writing Centre
  • Research & Innovation
    • Directorate of Research Development & Innovation (DRI)
    • Research at WSU
    • Innovation at WSU
    • Research Facilities & Centres
    • NRF-Rated Researchers
    • Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (PDRF)
    • Postgraduate Studies at WSU
    • Grants, Bursaries, Conferences & Other Funding
    • Policies & Documents
  • Community
    • CE&ID Director's Introduction
    • About CE&ID
    • Work-Integrated Learning
    • Service Learning
      • Implementation Guides
      • Community Learning
    • Internationalisation
      • International Partnerships
      • National Partnerships
    • International Education
      • International Education Admission
      • International Education Events
      • Financial Information & Liability
      • Pre-Arrival Information
  • Library
    • Search Library Resources - OPAC
    • LibGuides
    • Library Services
    • Library Membership
    • Electronic Resources
      • E-Journals
      • Ebsco E-books
      • Proquest E-books
    • Research Support
    • Online Newspapers
    • WSU Vital Repository
    • WSU Figshare
    • Off Campus access to Library
    • Student Email Access
    • Open Educational Resources Commons
    • DHET List of Approved Journals
  • Student Life
    • Directorate Overview
    • Student Services Policies
    • Institutional & Campus SRCs
    • Student Societies
    • Student Health and Wellbeing
      • Sport & Fitness
      • Campus Clinics
      • Student Counselling Unit
    • Residence Support
    • Quick Links
    • Campus Life
      • Campus SRCs
  • Media
    • Current News
    • Media Releases
    • Media Resources
    • Speeches
    • Newsletters
    • Gallery
    • login