Theme: Strengthening Evidence-Based Practice through Interdisciplinary Health Research

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the second School of Medicine Research Day. Following the resounding success of our inaugural event in 2025, this year’s gathering represents not only continuity, but a deliberate step forward—one grounded in growth, impact, and measurable outcomes.

As we reflect on the purpose of this gathering, we are reminded that “research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.” In the health sciences, this responsibility is even more profound, as the knowledge we generate directly shapes the quality of care we provide and the lives we touch.

Research remains the cornerstone of academic excellence and clinical relevance. At Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), research is deeply embedded in our institutional identity. As a young yet resilient university—formerly MEDUNSA—we continue to demonstrate that excellence is not defined by age, but by vision, commitment, and adaptability. Our position within the 1201–1500 band of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and 11th nationally, reflects the strength of our academic community and our unwavering pursuit of global relevance, even within a resourceconstrained environment.

This Research Day is aligned with our broader institutional agenda to strengthen evidencebased practice through interdisciplinary collaboration. It serves as a platform to cultivate a vibrant research culture across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As Albert Einstein once said, “the important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” It is this spirit of inquiry that we seek to ignite and sustain through initiatives such as this.

Through this platform, we aim to enhance research literacy, increase outputs, improve throughput rates, expand supervisory capacity, and strengthen research support systems. Equally important, we are committed to fostering student wellness, increasing access to funding opportunities, promoting collaboration, growing our postgraduate cohort, and reducing attrition. In doing so, we are guided by the understanding that “alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Interdisciplinary collaboration is not merely desirable— it is essential for solving the complex health challenges of our time.

Importantly, this Research Day does not end with presentations. It is part of a continuum. We will follow this engagement with a structured writing retreat aimed at converting presented abstracts into peer-reviewed publications. This ensures that the knowledge generated here translates into tangible outputs, measurable impact, and sustainable research development. As has often been said, “research without publication is incomplete,” and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the work we begin reaches its full potential.

The reinvestment of research subsidies into future initiatives, including this Research Day, will further strengthen our capacity for long-term growth and sustainability.

As we gather, I encourage all participants—students, supervisors, clinicians, and researchers—to engage meaningfully, collaborate boldly, and contribute to shaping a research-driven future for our institution and our communities.

Let us move forward with purpose, remembering that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” as our icon, Nelson Mandela, has said.

Together, let us move from strength to strength.

Professor R.F Chauke
Dean: School of Medicine Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University