Serving as the 2022 Chairperson of SAMSA UKZN is an opportunity that leaves me feeling utterly humbled yet honored, an opportunity which words fail to wholly capture its value.  I vow to serve with nothing less than absolute candor, humility, philanthropy, practicality and steadfastness.  

Firstly, I extend thanks to SAMSA UKZN’s 2021 Executive Committee and its leader, Serini Reddy, for their dedication and drive.  Their efforts revived SAMSA, fostered a stronger presence of SAMSA in UKZN and provided the much-needed momentum to allow SAMSA to regain its reliability, supporting members and respect of our peers at medical school.  Furthermore, SAMSA is only as strong as its general body of members.  Therefore, I extend my gratitude to every member.

Adding on, in 2022, I hope to reignite the essence of philanthropy in each and every single one of SAMSA’s projects, whilst still upholding our main ethos and principles.  As future medical doctors, we often forget to practice selflessness, devotion and the simple principle of identifying needs and delivering services to address identified grievances in our communities.  The theme I hope to deliver during the year and through our projects is that, one does not need to be confined by waiting for the day they graduate in order to make a difference in our community.  Service can be carried out by any individual; it transcends age, occupation, finances, employment status, race, beliefs and so on.  Everyone is capable of making a difference.  Remembering this concept is key to individuals upholding the Hippocratic Oath with consistency and longevity.  

Lastly, I aim to foster a new sense of leadership at our medical school, establish Continuous Professional Development opportunities and new beneficial long-term partnerships across all entities of Health Care.  In doing so, we hope to offer members of our campus and community long-lasting incentives and opportunities to evolve in professional, academic, financial and personal capacities.

I urge every single medical student across South Africa to fully immerse yourself in co-curricular opportunities and services that SAMSA provides.  The motivation for doing so is quite simple: one is able to grow their skills as future medical doctors, hone extra-curricular skills that would otherwise not be expanded upon beyond the medical syllabus as well as partake in rare opportunities to make a difference in communities, at all levels.