University of the Free State Recognizes Head of Department of Ophthalmology and Registrars for International Contributions
Dr Claire Armour Barrett, Head: Research and Development at the UFS School of Clinical Medicine, says Prof Marais has significantly raised the profile of the UFS on the global stage and has positioned the UFS Department of Ophthalmology as a trailblazer in the Southern African Development Community region.
“The UFS Department of Ophthalmology is the first university department in the region to collaborate with ORBIS, an international non-profit dedicated to combating avoidable blindness. Prof Marais’s selection to join ORBIS’s esteemed international teaching team is a testament to his expertise and dedication.
“He will play a pivotal role in enhancing ORBIS’s international training platform, contributing significantly to their strategic goal of bolstering human resources for eye health and improving education in ophthalmology,” says Dr Armour Barrett.
Prof Marais is also an Executive Committee member of the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa and also serves as the chairperson of the South African Bureau for the Prevention of Blindness.
International opportunity
Dr Armour Barrett has also congratulated two registrars from the department who have been selected to attend the Thessaloniki Vitreo-Retinal Summer School (TVSS) in Thessaloniki, Greece, in July 2024.
Drs Gerhard Kamffer and Arno Jansen van Rensburg were awarded full sponsorship from Envision to attend the TVSS. Spaces at the TVSS are generally reserved for specialist and consultant ophthalmologists, which makes the selection of these two registrars exceptional.
Dr Jansen van Rensburg, who recently qualified as an ophthalmologist and passed his final examination with merit, says he is looking forward to the opportunity to learn and interact with the international masters in retinal surgery.
“My aim is to gain exposure and expand our knowledge with the latest technology and vitreo retinal techniques from world experts. It is important that we implement this skillset in our own ophthalmology department to help decrease the burden of patients in the Free State who require surgical intervention. It is our goal to be the best ophthalmic training centre in South Africa,” he says.
He is the registrar representative for ophthalmology, medical student training and is part of the OSSA YO (Ophthalmological Society of South Africa – Young Ophthalmologist) committee for 2024.
According to Dr Jansen van Rensburg, he is currently in the process of publishing his recent MMed research. This study emphasises the need to improve glaucoma patients’ ability to correctly perform the necessary steps when instilling their eye drops. “We are proud to have created a unique educational video that improves our patients’ self-efficacy in instilling their eye drops, which in turn will benefit the healthcare system.”
Dr Kamffer says he hopes to gain first-hand knowledge from world-known experts to hopefully come and improve the management of our community’s patients. “I am filled with excitement and thankful to be granted this opportunity.
“The lack of similar opportunities given to registrars in the country underscores the importance of initiatives like Envision Africa’s sponsorship and the support of individuals like Prof Marais, who tirelessly advocates for the advancement of young professionals in the field of Ophthalmology. The TVRSS offers participants the opportunity to work in the latest Ultrasonic (Vitesse) Vitrectomy wet lab and receive intensive training on various advanced topics.
“The sponsorship of Drs Kamffer and Jansen van Rensburg by Envision Africa to attend the TVRSS is a testament to the value of investing in the development of young professionals in ophthalmology. Their experience highlights the importance of seeking out and taking advantage of such opportunities, both for personal growth and the advancement of the field as a whole.”