Southern African Association of Health Educationalists Award for Medical Science Master’s Researcher
Clinical skills tutor at the UKZN Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, Dr Leanthea Enoch is the winner of the prestigious Southern African Association of Health Educationalists (SAHHE) Award 2022.
SAHHE is an association of health sciences educators from South African universities, NGOs and government and private sectors. It aims on improving the quality of teaching and learning in health sciences education so as to enhance the delivery of high-quality, affordable and sustainable healthcare to South Africans in both the public and private sectors.
Enoch won the oral presentation category for her Master's of Medical Science research presentation, titled: Accessing Medical Students’ Ability to Bridge the Theory Practice Gap in Clinical Skills Following Online Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Her supervisor, UKZN Clinical Skills Co-ordinator and Lecturer, Dr Reina Abraham, congratulated Enoch, saying: "Dr Enoch has conducted her study with a lot of enthusiasm and dedication as she is committed to enhancing the clinical training of our students. The study explored innovative changes provided to an online clinical skills curriculum during the COVID-19 pandemic."
Enoch’s study highlights the value and importance of a blended learning strategy in the undergraduate medical education programme with the need to incorporate a digital curriculum that uses varied instructional designs and assessments to support traditional teaching methods.
Her experience in the health sciences field started with a Bachelor’s degree in Physiotherapy at the former University of Durban-Westville (now UKZN). She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Anaesthesia from the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and is currently completing her Master’s in Medical Science through UKZN while working as an Anaesthetist at Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital.
Words: Mandisa Shozi