University of the Free State appoints Prof Nicholas Pearce as Head of the UFS School of Clinical Medicine

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof Nicholas Pearce led the COVID-19 Task Team of the Universitas Academic Hospital, ensuring that the hospital not only had enough Personal protective equipment (PPEs) and beds for patients, but also that the vaccination process ran smoothly. Now, the Best Doctor of the Year for 2022 – as named during this year’s National Annual Batho Pele Excellence Awards (NBPEA) – will lead the School of Clinical Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS).

Prof Pearce, former Head of the Department of Surgery at the UFS who served the faculty in multiple capacities over a long period, took up this position on 1 December 2022 – a position he is looking forward to.

Create world-class doctors, maximise students’ full potential

“I’m excited about taking up my new position as Head of the School of Clinical Medicine. This is a role that comes with huge responsibility, and my vision is to create world-class doctors and to maximise each student’s full potential. We, as university, are a national asset and need to grow and develop to be of service to the future of our country. So, to lead a school with such a prestigious history is truly a privilege,” says Prof Pearce.

According to him, the goal for the Medical School in the next five years should be determined by three main core drivers: service delivery, research, and teaching and training. He would like to be in a stronger position, with innovation that can produce world-class doctors (both undergraduate and postgraduate).

If you look at the strategic plan of the UFS, says Prof Pearce, it is clear that, under the leadership of current Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, a period of regeneration and innovation is upon the university. Tied to this concept is the idea of self-evaluation and improvement. The idea of challenges and coming up with solutions excites him.

“I think for a while, my main aim will be to bring the university, the provincial Department of Health, and the school in alignment, ensuring that we are all pulling in the same direction to achieve the same goal.”

“At the end of the day, the goal here is to provide quality health care to the people of South Africa, while the Department of Health, the university, and society each function in different environments – coming together and understanding each other’s needs and having a common goal – excellent health care in this country for all our citizens.”

Lessons learned from surgery and running COVID-19 task teams

Prof Pearce, who was awarded the UFS Chancellor’s Medal for outstanding service during the April graduation ceremonies, says lessons learned from being both a surgeon and running COVID-19 task teams, are that strategic organisational processes need to be in place – systems strengthened, the policies and procedures adapted, and comprehensive planning taking place.

However, he says, one must also bear in mind that we have a history of very high academic standards in the School of Clinical Medicine, so you want to improve on that rather than go backwards.

“I learned a lot from surgery and COVID-19 that will equip me in future. COVID-19 taught me about organisational management, disaster management, funding, resource management, people management skills, development, etc.
“Running the Department of Surgery, one of the largest departments in the faculty with multiple inputs and personalities, has taught me that you are only as strong as the team behind you. I have an amazing team behind me in this new role, whether it is the dean, vice-dean, heads of department, administration, rectorate, and so forth.”

He will continue to work at the Universitas Hospital; however, being fully employed by the university, he will only be doing some calls and working over weekends.

“As a surgeon, theatre has always been my safe haven, my place of meditation, my place of peace, and I am sad to say goodbye to surgery and the Department of Surgery – it has been loyal, and I am grateful to everyone in the department; but I think as with all good things, there is a time to come and a time to go.”