Serela Samita Ramklass
Summary
Innovative Senior Lecturer with a robust history at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, specializing in health professional education and research. Excelled in curriculum development and online content delivery, showcasing exceptional organizational skills and interpersonal communication. Achieved significant accreditation successes and led pioneering interprofessional education projects, demonstrating a commitment to teaching excellence and student engagement.
Strong emphasis on fostering collaborative team environments and driving academic success. Skilled in developing engaging course materials, mentoring students, and contributing to successful scholarly and research activities. Reliable and results-focused, consistently delivering high-quality educational experiences.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Lecturer
University of Kwazulu-Natal: College of Health Sc
01.2013 - Current
- Secondment: Academic Leader Teaching and Learning: MBChB programme. January 2014-September 2019. Managed the UG medical curriculum, staff development programme, and student support as Chairperson of the School Teaching & Learning Committee. Successfully coordinated the HPCSA MBChB programme accreditation (2015, 2018) and M Medicine (MMED)specialist medical training accreditation (2014).
- Project Lead: Web-based MBChB Curriculum Mapping Project on LOOOP , in collaboration with Professor Olaf Ahlers, Charité University, Berlin. 2016-2018.
- Project Lead: Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice Programme (IPECP) for the College of Health Sciences (CHS) . Coordinated symposium, curriculum design workshops, staff development workshops, and designed and implemented novel IPECP simulation teaching and learning resources for clinical education for the elearning platform (2020- present). Implementation of a hybrid College wide IPECP for UG health professional programmes (2025). Collaborators: Professor Lesley Green-Rennis (BMCC:CUNY - USA), Dr Gerard Filies (IPE Unit: UWC SA), Mrs J Khanyola - Nursing: Global Health Equity (Rwanda).
- UKZN CHS Interprofessional Education Lead : "Strengthening Interprofessional Education for HIV" (STRIPE) in partnership with AFREhealth and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) 2019-20. Project Lead: Professor Musa Moshabela
- Project Lead: Online Medical Outreach programme . July 2020- present. For the School of Clinical Medicine in collaboration with the Kwazulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health, and the ECHO Institute - University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA.
- Deputy chairperson: MBChB Curriculum Revision and Renewal Task team for Primary Healthcare : 2019 - current.
- Developer and Module coordinator for the online MMED Research Methodology module. 2013- current.
- Committee Membership: Previous - South African Committee of Medical Deans, National Department of Health - Nelson Mandela/Fidel Castro Medical Collaboration Programme, College Academic Affairs Board, CHS Reintegration of Impaired Students Committee, MANCO
- Committee membership: Present -University Academic Exclusions Committee, CHS Strategic Teaching and Learning Task Team, MBChB programme Coordinating Committee, School Research and Higher Degrees committee.
- Research projects : Principle Investigator (6 projects), PG supervisor (2 Doctoral graduates, 15 Masters graduates), Collaborator (4 projects).
Senior Lecturer/ Research Coordinator
University Of KwaZulu-Natal-College of Health Sc
09.2010 - 12.2013
- Designed and developed the research curriculum the for M Medicine(MMED) specialist training programme.
- Developed and coordinated research supervisor workshops for novice and developing supervisors
- Lecturer / facilitator on face-to-face MMED Research methodology module
- Designed and Coordinated continuous development programme for the MMED curriculum team
- PI on the project "The Transition of master's level students into emerging healthcare researchers at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal". Funded by UKZN CHS.
- Research supervisor on PG programmes
Lecturer/ Research Manager
University of Kwazulu-Natal
08.2007 - 08.2010
- Developed and delivered lectures in Geriatrics and clinical teaching to 3rd and 4th year MBChB students
- Physiotherapy consultant in the multidisciplinary Dementia Clinic; Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital
- Research Projects Manager : Coordinated Interdisciplinary and intersectoral projects in Geriatrics
- Co-investigator and grants coordinator : Clinical and community-based geriatrics research
Lecturer / Associate Lecturer/ Educational Advisor
University Of KwaZulu-Natal - Westville Campus
01.1995 - 07.2007
- Secondment: Head of Physiotherapy programme 1 July-31 December 2007.
- Programme Coordinator: Level 1 (January 1996-June2006), Level 3 (July2006-June 2007).
- Clinical education supervisor : Physiotherapy out-patients, orthopaedics, spinal cord injuries, intensive care unit, paediatrics, surgery and burns, acute and chronic medical patients, community physiotherapy and primary healthcare
(January 1996-June2007). - Lecturer and module coordinator for modules: Functional Anatomy, Kinesiology, Physiotherapy Selected Competency Skills, Community Rehabilitation and Development for Physiotherapy, Applied Pre-Clinical Science (Applied Anatomy), Principles of Physiotherapy Practice in Neurology, Rheumatology, Respiratory and Surgery (January 1996-June2007).
- Research supervisor: Honours level research
- Educational Advisor: Physiotherapy academic development and student support programme (January-December 1995).
Physiotherapist
Provincial Department of Health
01.1993 - 12.1994
- Provided physiotherapy services to patients in Physiotherapy outpatients department, the Orthopaedics, Surgery and Burns, Adult and Paediatric ICU, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry wards
- Delivered continuous professional development activities e.g. journal club for staff development
- Achieved a qualification in Orthopaedic Manipulative Therapy (OMT) from the SA Society of Physiotherapy
Education
Ph.D. - Physiotherapy: Curriculum Studies
University of Kwazulu-Natal
School Of Education-Edgewood Campus10-2006
Master of Education - Tertiary Education
University of Kwazulu-Natal
School Of Education 04-2001
Skills
- Student engagement
- Teaching excellence
- Interpersonal communication
- Research and analysis
- Mentoring and coaching
- Program assessment
- Critical thinking
- Excellent communication
- Curriculum development
- Online content delivery
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Organizational skills
Accomplishments
- Teaching Excellence Certificate Award for Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Teaching Excellence Certificate Award for Education Outreach achievement
- Community Engagement (Academic) and Leadership
- REACHT Ambassador (Academic)
- Dean's Certificate of Appreciation
Honours and Awards
University Of Kwazulu-Natal Vice-Chancellor Award , 28 November 2024
University Of Kwazulu-Natal Vice-Chancellor Award, 28 November 2024
University of Kwazulu-Natal: School of Clinical Medicine
1 December 2023
Awarded in recognition of the most original contribution by a staff member in building bridges between the university and society
University of Kwazulu-Natal: School of Clinical Medicine
14 December 2022
Awarded in recognition of my embodiment of the values of the University of Kwazulu-Natal in all my actions
Dean and Head of School: School of Clinical Medicine, UKZN
December 2018
Awarded in recognition of my contribution in the position of Academic leader: Teaching and Learning and coordination of the accreditation process for the MBChB programme in 2018. The programme was awarded full accreditation by the HPCSA.
Timeline
Senior Lecturer
University of Kwazulu-Natal: College of Health Sc
01.2013 - Current
Senior Lecturer/ Research Coordinator
University Of KwaZulu-Natal-College of Health Sc
09.2010 - 12.2013
Lecturer/ Research Manager
University of Kwazulu-Natal
08.2007 - 08.2010
Lecturer / Associate Lecturer/ Educational Advisor
University Of KwaZulu-Natal - Westville Campus
01.1995 - 07.2007
Physiotherapist
Provincial Department of Health
01.1993 - 12.1994
Ph.D. - Physiotherapy: Curriculum Studies
University of Kwazulu-Natal
Master of Education - Tertiary Education
University of Kwazulu-Natal
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