The new Head of the Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Department (MITS), Dr Merlisa Kemp, hopes to take the department to greater heights.

Kemp, who took up the position in January, joined CPUT in 2015 as a Diagnostic Ultrasound lecturer.

Her vision for the department is: “To build a nation-leading medical imaging department, committed to the vision of the university by adopting smart innovative techniques and technologies in the fields of teaching and learning, research, engagement, administration, partnerships and collaborations”.

Before joining CPUT, she worked in a private radiology practice as a sonographer specialising in vascular ultrasound imaging.

Last year Kemp graduated with the degree: Doctor in Radiography from CPUT.

She has received several accolades over the years, including the National Research Foundation’s Thuthuka Grant in 2019-2020 for her project: Ultrasound investigation of risk factors for extracranial vascular pathology in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

“I enjoy working with and serving people and sharing my clinical experience and knowledge with students who are engaged in studies in Health Sciences,” she said.

Kemp was initially shocked when she heard she had been appointed to the position but believes she is equipped to face the challenges and feels she can make a difference and “take the Department of MITS to greater heights”.

Outside of work her first love is to spend quality time with her family, especially her husband and children. She also enjoys cycling and road running.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences recently welcomed a team from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to the Bellville campus as part of the Clinical Training Grant (CTG) visit.

The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the impact of the CTG that is allocated annually to fund clinical training in four of the seven departments in the Faculty, namely the Departments of Emergency Medical Sciences (EMS), Biomedical Sciences, Nursing Sciences and Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences (MITS), said Lloyd Christopher, Head of the EMS Department.

The DHET representatives were welcomed by Prof Tandi Matsha, Dean of the Faculty, who presented an overview of the Faculty before the Faculty’s CTG presentation by Christopher.

They were then taken on a tour of the departments’ state of the art facilities, including the Biomedical Sciences lab, the MITS Department’s computer-simulated learning environment, known as VERT, the EMS Department’s skills labs, including the immersive clinical simulation centre which can replicate emergency scenarios and the Nursing Department’s skills lab, where they got to interact with a life-like manikin named Jonathan.

The Faculty is investigating ways in which the CTG can improve the students' experience of clinical training and welcomed the DHET representative support for these initiatives.   

Meanwhile, the Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences Department recently accompanied representatives of the Health Professions Council of SA (HSPCA) on a clinical site visit.

Dr Merlisa Kemp, Head of the MITS Department, said that in order for a radiology practice or clinical site to accept students for training, they have to be accredited by the HPCSA.

“Members of the Radiography and Clinical Technology board (HPCSA) inspect the clinical site to determine if the practice is adhering to the HPCSA accreditations guidelines which allow the practice to accept students for training,” said Kemp.

“Accreditation refers to the approval and recognition of professional programmes of study by the accrediting body. It is the recognition of academic and clinical quality by an impartial body, in this instance, the HPCSA.”

 The four BSc programmes offered by the Department of MITS includes a theoretical and clinical component. Work-Integrated Learning is part of the programme where the student would be allocated to various clinical sites to gain experience in clinical training. The clinical training involves students conducting radiographic and sonographic examinations under the supervision of a qualified sonographer and/or radiographer.

“Accreditation of clinical sites allows for students to be clinically trained and fulfil the learning outcomes for the specific programme/s and be deemed clinically competent for the specific level of study.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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