Stellenbosch University’s FMHS colleagues recognised with Chancellor’s Awards

For the past 16 years, Mr Daniel (Dan) Ranna has been lightening up the reception area at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS). As the faculty’s reception officer, every day Ranna cheerfully greets each and every staff member and student by name, and courteously welcome guests to the Clinical Building.

“He cheers up your day no matter what challenges you face. Mr Ranna has developed personal connections with nearly every single staff member and has the uncanny ability to remember all our stories,” reads his commendation.

For this exemplary work, which “embodies the university values of excellence, compassion, equity, respect and accountability”, Ranna received the Chancellor’s Award during the university’s December graduation.

He shares the accolade with two highly respected FMHS colleagues: Prof Susan van Schalkwyk, Director of the Centre for Health Professions Education (CHPE), and Prof Taryn Young, Executive Head of the Department of Global Health and Director of the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care (CEBHC).

“Professor van Schalkwyk is a leader and a teaching specialist in the health sciences whose innovations feature projects that influence the work of students and staff, academia and industry,” reads her nomination for the 2022 Chancellor’s Award. She was applauded for her seminal work in the field of learning and teaching, and in particular within health professions education, which has placed the CHPE on the international stage. “She leads several faculty development initiatives and her awards include the SU Distinguished Teacher Excellence and SU Teaching Fellowship awards.”

In her Rector’s Award nomination, Young was lauded for her expertise in evidence-informed health care, evident from the over 150 academic articles she has authored, and R150 million funding she has secured for the university. “She collaborates with leading health and evidence-based institutions to advance the translation of science and her links with the Provincial and National Department of Health has led to evidence-informed policies,” reads her commendation. “The leadership she provides in research capacity-building has positively embedded the scientific rigour and output of students, emerging and established researchers.”