The Department of Biomedical and Clinical Technology at the Durban University of Technology proudly recently hosted its Professional Oath ceremony at the Southern Sun Elangeni hotel. This annual ceremony is a culmination of hard work and dedication from all role players in the training of students in both Bachelor of Health Sciences in Clinical Technology and Medical Laboratory Science.
The Clinical Technology and Laboratory Science graduates committed to upholding professional standards in healthcare practice, as evident from their participation in the Professional Oath ceremony. This pledge demonstrates their dedication to providing high-quality patient care, adhering to ethical guidelines, and maintaining the integrity of the healthcare profession. By embracing these values, they set a strong foundation for their future careers in healthcare.
Dr Sherilene Benjamin, Chair of the Community Engagement Committee, mentioned that the Biomedical and Clinical Technology department is hosting its third annual Professional Oaths ceremony and fifth Awards Day event, saying that the event marks a significant milestone for students in the Bachelor of Health Sciences in Clinical Technology and Medical Laboratory Science programmes, recognising their hard work and dedication to upholding professional standards in healthcare practice.
The ceremony was also in line with DUT ENVISION2030, underscoring the department’s commitment to producing globally recognised professionals in Medical Laboratory Science and Clinical Technology Education, while emphasising the importance of ethics and professional standards in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Dr Nonhlanhla Mbatha, the Head of Department (HOD), warmly welcomed attendees and expressed gratitude to parents, students, and industry partners for their contributions to producing graduates, particularly acknowledging the role of industry partners in providing training to final-year students.
“I would like to welcome our class of 2024, those that were walking the stage in the May 2025 graduation. Most importantly, I would like to acknowledge the parents as they are the ones who actually brought our clients into this world. I would also like to welcome our clinical training supervisors, collaborators and partners in the industry. We would not be having graduates and these oath ceremonies if it was not for them, because we trust them with our third and fourth year students to provide them with proper clinical practice training,” said Dr Mbatha.
Dr Mbatha also shared that the 2025 Oath ceremony is the last to be hosted by the department; the Faculty of Health Sciences will be hosting all future ceremonies for all graduates in the faculty going forward. The event’s first part focused on promoting academic excellence by recognising top academic and research performers. It also aimed to develop future leaders by acknowledging students who took on roles like class representatives, which helps to build valuable graduate attributes such as teamwork and leadership skills through awards.
Ayanda Duma, a Clinical Technologist and 2024 top research project achiever, shared his inspiring student journey, highlighting challenges like managing the academic workload and practical training.
“Studying Clinical Technology has been one of the most challenging yet fulfilling experiences of my life. When I started, I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, but I did not fully understand how diverse and technical it could be. Balancing the academic workload with practical training was tough at first. Being in hospital settings, working with real patients, and operating life-saving machines came with a huge sense of responsibility. But over time, I gained confidence through hands on experience and guidance from mentors,” he explained.
Professor Pavitra Pillay, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, delivered a keynote address on ‘Ethics in newly qualified health professionals: Navigating Integrity in Clinical Practice and Research’. She emphasised the importance of resilience and integrity for newly qualified professionals in navigating challenging ethical scenarios in their practice and research.
“I want to make the newer people and the young people think about some aspects of ethics. They may see it as having just done a research project recently. They may see it mainly from the perspective of what research requires or the research project requires. However, ethics is something that runs through your entire life. It has got nothing to do with the only research that you do where you see those four principles of ethics or five principles and think around it. As the older generation, we need to provide sound mentorship and accountability for the youth. In summary, ethics is foundational to our clinical practice. It is foundational to our health research. Ethical dilemmas are real. There will be lots that you will face as students and newly graduates in the workplace. Be prepared and try to just be resilient to scenarios that test your integrity,” said Professor Pillay.
The event proceeded with a keynote address from Dr Brenda Mkhize, a board member of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and also a Senior Lecturer in the DUT Department of Biomedical and Clinical Technology. She delivered the keynote address on ‘Rules and Regulations for Professional Practice’, providing valuable insights on the importance of adhering to professional standards and guidelines in healthcare practice.
Two impactful guest speakers: Mr Mark Padavattan emphasised integrity and ethics in Clinical Technology, leading graduates in a pledge ceremony, and Ms Simi Raghunanan, shared her entrepreneurial journey in Medical Laboratory Science, highlighting the successes and challenges.
Pictured: Attendees at the professional Oath Ceremony.
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Thubelihle Dumakude
