The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Pretoria (UP) hosted a farewell function in honour of former Dean, Professor Tiaan de Jager, on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, recognising his lasting contributions and transformative leadership during nearly nine years at the helm. The event, held at Lecture Hall 4-27 in the Health Sciences Building, brought together academic and professional staff, students, and colleagues to celebrate Prof de Jager’s remarkable leadership and transformative contributions over his two terms as Dean.

The farewell, chaired by incoming Dean Professor Flavia Senkubuge, featured moving tributes, reflections from colleagues, and a soulful performance by the House Ukuthula residence choir. The programme concluded with a celebratory lunch at the CPR Café.

In an emotional address, Prof de Jager shared memories of his tenure, which spanned eight years and ten months, marked by resilience, innovation, and a relentless commitment to student success and faculty advancement.

“Serving as Dean has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life,” he said. “From the outset, I recognised that leadership in a faculty as dynamic as ours is never about individual accomplishment. It is about building systems, cultivating collaboration, and enabling others to thrive.”

Under his leadership, the Faculty of Health Sciences has seen significant transformation across teaching, learning, infrastructure, research, and student success. Among the key developments were the establishment of the Health Sciences Centre for Simulation and Innovation, da Vinc Surgical Robotic Training Centre, 3D Scanning and Printing Facility, 21st-century hi-tech Health Sciences Library and the One Health Building—projects that enhanced academic and clinical spaces while fostering a sense of community across UP’s multiple health training platforms.

Prof de Jager also championed curriculum transformation, with notable developments such as the new MBChB and BChD curricula, while maintaining an impressive student throughput rate—from under 5,000 in 2016 to over 6,800 in 2024.

Throughout his address, Prof de Jager paid tribute to colleagues and mentors, particularly acknowledging the foundational work of former deans, deputy deans, and school chairs. He also expressed deep pride in the faculty’s increasing postgraduate outputs, international research rankings, and the consistent contribution of over 25% to UP’s accredited research units.

“These achievements are not mine alone. They belong to every lecturer, administrator, student, and support staff who believed in our shared vision,” he noted. “My personal slogan, ‘#LifeChangers’, was never just a phrase. It became a movement—one that I hope continues to guide our path forward.”

Multiple speakers shared warm tributes during the event. Student representatives praised Prof de Jager’s visibility, accessibility, and compassionate leadership, recalling his consistent presence at events and his kindness toward the student body.

Professor Londiwe Sindisiwe Shangase, Chair of the School of Dentistry, thanked him for his mentorship and guidance, particularly during difficult transitions. “Your support gave me the courage to lead with confidence. You helped me move past emotions and focus on change,” she said.

Professor Mable Kekana of the School of Healthcare Sciences reflected on his support through challenges such as COVID-19 and the revitalisation of the Department of Radiography. “You helped us believe again. Your encouragement brought our school back to life,” she shared.

Professor Annie Joubert, speaking on behalf of the School of Medicine, described Prof de Jager as “a visionary who brought inspiration, energy, and an unrelenting belief in the future”.

Closing tributes came from Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, Head of the School of Health Systems and Public Health, who described Prof de Jager’s leadership as both transformational and transformative.

“Your legacy echoes in the faculty’s rise in excellence, reach, and relevance,” he said. “You reminded us that people are not just workers—they are whole beings. You built more than systems; you nurtured humanity.”

As he passes the baton to Prof Senkubuge, Prof de Jager steps back into academia with gratitude and optimism. “We are a faculty that leads with compassion,” he concluded. “And as I move forward, I do so knowing we have laid a strong foundation for the future.”

The farewell served not just as a celebration of tenure, but as a tribute to a leader whose legacy will continue to shape health education, research, and transformation at the University of Pretoria for years to come.