Wits University has announced the appointment of a new Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, following the departure of Professor Ahmed Wadee who was “recalled” by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in September last year. Professor Martin Veller will assume the role of Dean in July this year.
The full press release is reproduced below:
“Professor Martin Veller, MBBCh, FCS(SA), MMed(Surg), has been appointed as the new Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University.
Veller, a vascular surgeon, was Head of the Department of Surgery in the School of Clinical Medicine at Wits from November 2001 to February 2013.
He will assume the deanship on 1 July 2014.
Veller received his pre- and postgraduate training at Wits where he qualified in general surgery in 1987.
He subsequently undertook a one year research fellowship at St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College, London.
Veller was appointed ad hominem Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits in April 2002.
He is currently the President of the College of Surgeons of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa as well as the President of the World Federation of Vascular Societies.
“It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead a very large and productive Faculty of Health Sciences into an era when this country faces extensive health care reforms,” says Veller.
“Our society has experienced many challenges in the provision of high quality health care. Amongst the most important is the dire shortage of health care professionals who are responsive to the needs of the society in which this Faculty exists. This is one of the most significant contributors to the social and economic disparities in our society.
“Wherever we, as the Faculty, focus our efforts into the future, we must always be cognisant of our primary aim.
This is that we want to help improve the health care provision for every individual, based on the fact that a country whose citizens are healthy will flourish.”