Origins of South Africa’s eight and oldest rural medical school: Pioneering a new approach to medical education

Authors

  • S A Mabunda School of Public Health, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa; Global Centre for Human Resources for Health Intelligence, Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa; School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9458-3742
  • M N Xaba-Mokoena Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7196/10.7196/SAMJ.2025.v115i11b.3584

Keywords:

Medical Education, rural disadvantaged, Health access

Abstract

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Author Biography

  • S A Mabunda, School of Public Health, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa; Global Centre for Human Resources for Health Intelligence, Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa; School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

     

    1Public Health, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa

    2Global Centre for Human Resources for Health Intelligence, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa

    3School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    4George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

     

References

1. Digby A. Black doctors and discrimination under South Africa’s apartheid regime. Medical History 2013;57(2):269-290.

2. Digby A. The last cohort of early black doctors who studied abroad, 1931-1940. S Afr Med J 2007;97(7):508-509.

3. Xaba-Mokoena MVN. Dream fulfilled: Memoirs on MVN Xaba-Mokwena. Publisher not identified. 2006.

4. Phillips H. The University of Cape Town 1918-1948: The formative years. Cape Town: University of Cape Town; 1993.

5. South African history online. Bathandwa Ndondo. https://www.sahistory.org.za/people/bathandwa- ndondo (accessed 4 May 2025).

6. Saunders SJ. Some challenges to South African universities. S Afr Med J 1985;67(23):932-933.

7. Fendall NR. Declaration of Alma-Ata. Lancet 1978;2(8103):1308. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-

6736(78)92066-4.

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Published

2025-12-19

Issue

Celebrating 40 years of the WSU Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Section

WSU Commentaries

License

Copyright (c) 2025 S A Mabunda, M N Xaba-Mokoena

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How to Cite

1.
Mabunda SA, Xaba-Mokoena MN. Origins of South Africa’s eight and oldest rural medical school: Pioneering a new approach to medical education. S Afr Med J [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 19 [cited 2025 Dec. 28];115(11b):e3584. Available from: https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/3584

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